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LABELS (American), postage

stamps.

Lace (popular), spirits.

He got royally blind, showed a liking for lace.-Bird o' Freedom. Laced (old cant), sugared, as laced

coffee.

Laced mutton, used by Shak

speare (Two Gentlemen of Verona). Vide MUTTON. Lacing (popular), a beating. Ladder (common), “can't see a

hole in a ladder,” said of one who is intoxicated.

Ladroneship (nautical), literally

a pirate, but it is the usual epithet applied by the Chinese to a man- of - war (Admiral

Smyth). Lady (old cant), a misshapen

woman. Lady-bird (common), a specially

nice or dainty kept mistress. (Popular), a wanton or lewd

girl. Lady-caller (American), explained

by quotation.

A lady-caller is a cultivated and presentable woman nicely dressed, who takes a salary for distributing cards for fashionable folk, and, as we presume from the accomplishments demanded of her, even occasionally makes actual calls instead of the lady who employs her, and who, by a social fiction, is supposed to be calling.St. James's Gazette. Lady - fender (popular), a lazy

woman who gives herself airs. Chiefly used by servants in reference to a mistress who likes to sit by the fireside doing nothing.

Ladies' grog (common), hot,

strong, sweet, and plenty of it

(Dickens). Ladies' Mile (society), Rotten Row.

Ladle, to (theatrical), to speak

the text in a pedantic and pretentious manner, i.e., to “ladle

it out." Lad of wax (thieves), shoemaker.

VOL. II.

Lady Green-Lagniappe.

Lady Green (prison), the prison

chaplain.

ale in Anglo-Saxondom. It was
in America that the word lager
was most incorrectly applied,
for the first time about 1847, in
Philadelphia, to German beer,
to distinguish it from American
and English malt drinks. All
German beer is not lager, any
more than all English beer is
Indian pale ale or “bitter.”
Und is mein sabre sharp and true ?

Und is mein war-horse goot?
To get one quart of lager bier,
I'd shpill a sea of bloot !

-Ballads of Hans Breitmann. Lage, to (old cant), to wash. Vide

LAGE.

Lag (thieves), a prisoner, convict.

Vide TO LAG. Asking . . . what improvement there was in the grub at Brixton; was there going to be a war with Russia? If so, was it likely they would want the lags for soldiers.-Evening News.

An old lag, one who has been through penal servitude.

To start, I, a confirmed old lag myself, think I may say that there isn't a prison in London that I haven't seen the inside of.—Greenwood: Dick Temple.

(Westminster School), a fag. Every morning the lag junior prepares and brings to hall the “list,” which is the rota of duties for the day.-Everyday Life in Our Public Schools. Lage (old cant), wash water,

thin drink. Probably from the
Gaelic and Irish lag, weak,
feeble.
I bowse no lage, but a whole gage
Of this I bowse to you.

- Brome : A Jovial Crew. This term is still used by the low class of actors. It is curious to note that laigue, in old French argot, signifies water, from the Spanish agua, with the article prefixed. But there is no evidence that the English term is from the French laigue.

Lagger (thieves), a sailor. Pos

sibly from his way of walking. Also one who gives evidence;

an informer. Vide TO LAG. Lagging (thieves), a term of im

prisonment or hard labour. Vide To LAG. Now the whole of the difference between passing a comfortable lagging and a hard lagging, is to give no trouble to the officer. I always make it a rule-don't trouble me and I'll not trouble you.—Evening News. Lagniappe (Creole American), a

trifling commission or discount.

All New Orleans grocers give to every purchaser a lagniappe. If child or servant buys five cents' worth, lagniappe is expected and given rigidly, as though so nominated in the bond. It may be sugar, or spice, or candy. If the purchaser de. mand quartee (two and a half cents' worth) rice and quartee beans, two lagniappe are given. There are groceries in the French quarter where the chief business of the supplemental small boy is the rolling of brown paper sheets into cornucopias, and the filling of these horns of plenty with lagniappe.-- American Newspaper.

Lager (American). In German

lager means a resting-place, a

a place. Hence a warehouse where goods lie, a stock or deposit. Lager bier in Germany is stock beer, as one says stock

Lagniappe—Laker.

This system is getting general now in London for grocers to give presents to all purchasers. The higher the purchase the greater the present. The practice is usual in France, and probably in most countries.

(Old cant), to lag, to void urine. A lagging gage, a chamber-pot. The expression is still common among showmen and

strolling actors. Vide LAGE. Laid in lavender. Vide

LAVENDER.

Laid out (American), also Eng

lish, but more extensively ap-
plied in “the States.” Beaten,

flattened out.
Mr. M is horizontally laid out.
Nevertheless, the war taxes must go.
Boston Herald.

Lags (American), layers of leaves

of tobacco. Dutch laag, a lay,

a row layer.
Lag, to (thieves), formerly to

transport or cause to be trans-
ported; now to send to penal
servitude or to prison.

They'll ask no questions after him, fear
they should be obliged to prosecute, and
so get him lagged. — Dickens : Oliver
Twist.

A day or two after Bill returns alone. The girl asks him where her sweetheart is. “He's lagged,” says Bill. --Sims: How the Poor Live.

Tolag, which, it is conjectured, originally came from “lagging,” or tying the prisoners together, is curiously allied to lagan, the right of the lord to take goods cast up on the shore of his manor. Also goods tied to a buoy and then sunk in the sea. In gypsy and Hindu lagar or lugarna has the same meaning. Compare the French cant word “fagot,” for a convict, i.e., tied up like a bundle of sticks. Hotten suggests the derivation from the old Norse lagda, laid, laid by the leg. To lag, which formerly had also the meaning of to steal, seems to be connected in the sense with the German lagern, to lay, to put away.

Laker. Although applied as a

term of derision to Wordsworth, Southey, and their famous friends, because they lived in the Lake country, the word had been in use from time immemorial in Yorkshire and Lancashire, in another sense, with reference to players. The dictionaries give “ Lake, to play, to sport,” hence laker, or derisively, “lazy laker.” Lake, a north-country word for play, is from Danish lege, to play.

One of the delicate pleasantries invented at the expense of the players in the last century, runs as follows. When the drum announced their advent in the rural districts of Yorkshire, the farmers' dames were wont to say—“Get the shirts off the hedge, wench, for here comes the lakers."

In the year 1750, Gentleman Holman, a famous actor and author, and the recipient of high honours from his Alma

Laker-Lamm.

Mater at Oxford, was fulfilling an engagement at Leeds. He had dressed at his hotel for Beverley, in “The Gamester,” and was attired in his court suit, with powdered hair and bag, chapeau bras, diamond buckles, &c. On his way to the theatre, in a sedan chair, the porters were stopped on Leeds Bridge, and overhauled by a gang of roughs of the period, who demanded to know who was inside. On being informed that the gentle. man in court dress was a playactor, the ringleader said to his friends — “Oh! it's nobbut a laker; chuck him in triver, lads." Before they could carry out this laudable intention, the laker stepped out, confronted them with his rapier, which he slipped into them, right and left, sending the ruffians howl.

ing in every direction. La-li-loong (pidgin-English), a

thief, thieves.

The barber complained he had been called a la-li-loong, the pidgin-English for a thief.-Celestial Empire, 1876.

Just then he savvy la-li-loong,

Same tief-man muchee bad,
Hab wantchee kill one foleigna'
An' catchee állo had.

-Wang-ti. Lā11-shraub (Anglo-Indian).

English-Hindu, lāl-shrāb, red wine. The name for claret in India. In English gypsy, lāl or lulli-moll.

elderly person who dresses and makes up like a young one.

Vide LAMBS. Lamb and salad (popular), to

give one lamb and salad, to give a sound thrashing. Also lambpie, a flogging. From lam, vide

LAMM. Lambasting (popular), beating,

thrashing. Vide To LAMB. Lamb down (Australian up

country), to beat. Vide To LAMM. He saw the publican ... narrating with coarse glee to a fellow-poisoner how he had copped the old — on the hop and lambed him down to rights.-A.C. Grant. Lamb, lam, to (popular). Vide

To LAMM. Lambs (common), the roughs at

an election employed to create a disturbance and break up the meetings held by and in favour of an opposing candidate. Also roaghs of any kind.

The bold Bendy, who until the past year or two was notorious as the foremost “bully boy" amongst the lambs of Nottingham.-J. Greenwood : Low-Life Deeps. Lame duck. Vide DUCK. Lammie Todd (tailors), a phrase

used by tailors, meaning “I

would if I could." Lamm, to (popular) to beat, strike.

From the Icelandic hlemma, to beat, bruise; Anglo-Saxon lama, Irish lamh, old Norse lamr, Hotten deriving it from the old Norse lam, hand. Lam is originally to strike with the hand.

Lamb (old), name given formerly to

a dupe, now a "pigeon,” “mug,” or “juggins." (Popular), an

Lamm-Land.

argot and Italian furbesco are quinquets and lampante. Vide GIG-LAMPS.

Compare smack, to slap, and
Irish smac, the palm of the
hand. This word is old Eng-
lish, and is now used only by
slang-talking people.
Dauber, to beat, swindge, lamme.-
Cotgrave.
De vellers ash lam de Romans dill dey
roon mit noses plue.
- Charles G. Leland: Breitmann

Ballads.
But forty-nine more were wanted, and I

was getting mad,
For I hadn't done what I wanted, which

was, I'll now expound,
To lamm the ball to a certain and distant
part of the ground.

-Bird o' Freedom. Lamm it on, lay it on, hit hard. Lammy (thieves), a blanket. An

allusion to lamb and wool. Lamp country (military), walking

out at night without money in one's pockets. The soldier's hours of recreation are generally after dark, when the lights are lit, and if he has no funds to defray entrance to places of amusement, or pay for refreshments at other houses of call, he has to be content with lamp

country. Lamp-post (common), a nickname for a tall lanky individual, much in vogue among schoolboys. A

synonym is “sky-topper.” Lampresado, defined in the New

Canting Dictionary as one who comes into company with but twopence in his pocket! An

impostor, an informer. Lamps (thieves and others), the

eyes. The synonyms in French

Landed (popular). A man is said

to be landed when he has amassed a fortune large enough to keep him for the rest of his life.

(Thieves), to be landed, explained by quotation. When I fell this time I had between four and five quid found on me, but they gave it me back, so I was landed (was all right).-Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Land-grabber (common), farmer

who rents a farm from which another has been evicted.

Oh, those dreadful Irish! Fiendish affair reported in Banner. Goose belong. ing to Nationalist deliberately allowed to wander about meadow rented by a landgrabber, and eat up grass. Land-grabber's horse consequently has to go short of green food, poor starved thing! The Coercion Bill must be pressed on at all hazards.Funny Folks.

Landlubber (nautical), a useless

long-shorer ; a vagrant stroller. Applied by sailors to the mass of landsmen, especially those without employment (Admiral Smyth).

Landsharks (nautical), crimps,

pettifogging attorneys, shop-
mongers and the canaille in-
festing the slums of seaport
towns (Admiral Smyth). Also

lawyers.
Land, to (common), to bit, to

place a blow, to fall.
And he landed the P. P. to rights, and he

dodged his redoubtable digits,
And Grimthorpe cried, Go for him, G. G. !

-Punch.

Land-Lap.

To Mitchellise him till he couldn't hit half an ounce, or land within half a mile of a haystack.-Punch.

(Common), to land a kick, to bring one's foot in violent contact with a person's breech. Also “to hoof, hoof one's bum, to root," &c. (Popular), landing it hot, hitting hard ; land, to strike.

Lan-tun (pidgin), London. “Hab

muchee man in Lan-tun town,

but flom dat tim I know.” Lap (old cant), tea. (Popular),

liquor, drink. Lap is a term invariably used in the balletgirls' dressing - room for gin

(Hotten). Lap ears (American University),

students of a religious turn of mind are so called ; also donkeys. Lapland (popular), the society of

women, an expression derived from the female sex being called

“cats.” Lapper (popular), a rare lapper,

a hard drinker. (Thieves), drink.

Her fingers so lovely and taper, ah, yes,
No hand e'er had fingers like those ;
But the way she has got of just clenching

the lot,
And landing me hot on the nose !

-Song: Poor Mr. Coppit.

Lane, Harriet (military), pre

served or tinned meat. A modern epithet on a ration now much used in campaigns, and obviously derived from the unfortunate girl Harriet Lane, who was murdered by Wainwright, and put by in a box with chloride of lime, which preserved instead of destroying the body.

Lane, red (popular), the throat. Lane, the (legal). Chancery Lane

is always spoken of by lawyers as The Lane. (Theatrical), a colloquial abbreviation among the employés of Drury Lane for the theatre. (Popular and thieves), Petticoat Lane. (Thieves), the Lane, represented, in the slang of the criminal classes, Horsemonger Lane Gaol.

Laprogh (tinker), a goose or

duck; a bird of any kind. Lap, to (common), to drink.

(American), this word still retains many old meanings among American thieves and gamblers, or has taken new ones, such as to pick up, to take, steal, wipe out, put out of sight, drink, and buttermilk, which, like lap, is also a term for gin. A "laptea” is where there are so many guests that girls sit in one another's laps, or in those of the men, or where it is done for pleasure. A “lap - ride," where the same thing is done in a vehicle. "To lap a girl.” “Do you let George lap you?” “No, we only sit sideways as yet.” To lap the gutter, vide GUTTER.

Lanthorn, dark (old cant), a ser.

vant or agent in a court who receives a bribe.

Lardy-da-Larrikin.

Lardy-da, lah-de-dah (common),

a word borrowed from the refrain of a song which was popular some twenty years ago. Applied to a fop or dandy. At the bar, forming the central figure of a group otherwise composed of lah-de-dah youths (now known as imitation dudes), stood a short, stocky-built man of about thirty-five years of age.-American Newspaper. Lardy - dardy toffs (popular),

effeminate swells. Large blue kind, the (American).

This very eccentric expression, signifying magnitude and intensity, seems to have been suggested by blue bottle flies, which are larger and more disliked than any others. A particularly bad humbug or lie is sometimes described as being one of the

large blue kind. Large order. Vide ORDER. Largo, largey, largo (g soft like ;)

(pidgin), much, great, magnanimous, loud. Expresses magnitude or extent of all kinds. My largo man, my have catchee peace, my have catchee war.-Points and Pickings of Information about China (London, 1844). Lárkin (tinkers), a girl. This is

curious as indicating an affinity between the Hindustani lárki, a girl, and the gypsy rakli. (Anglo-Indian), a very strong

spiced punch. Lark rig. Vide RIG. Larks (American thieves), boys

who steal newspapers from doorsteps.

“Boy, why don't your father take a newspaper,” said a man to a small lark, whom he had just found larking his morning Tribune.

“He generally does," was the reply, “but this mornin' he sent me to take one wherever I could snap it."— Tribune. Larky subaltern's coach, the

(military), a carriage which used to be attached nightly to a goods train, starting from the Nine Elms Station at 2.30 A.M. for Aldershot, put on for the convenience of military officers who had from various causes got benighted in London, and missed the ordinary train. Larky, as used here, is probably from

the phrase, “up with the lark.” Larn-pidgin (pidgin), learn

pigeon; an apprentice, a boy admitted by favour of the upper servants to a house that he may learn English and domestic duties.

Larrikin (common), a rough, a

wild fellow.
And yonder yelling fools contrive

To lend some truth to Mammon's text.
The laziest larrikin alive,
With babbling tongue and brow per-

plex'd,
Can help do that.

-Punch.
Imported from Australia,
where it is sometimes abbre-
viated to lary.
In your article on “Our Larrikins” of
June 2nd, you invite an explanation of
the origin of this Colonial synonym for
“rough.” If the common account be
correct, it arose out of a misunderstanding.
An Irishman, on being brought up for
unruly behaviour before an Australian
magistrate, excused himself by saying that
he was only “larkin'.” Any one familiar
with the peculiarities of the Irish brogue

Lascar-Lawful.

will easily realise how the two-syllabled participle was mistaken for a three-syl. labled noun.-Celt in the Spectator..

Latchpan (popular), the lower

lip.

Lascar (Anglo-Indian), originally meaning a soldier, “lashkari.” It has now become a generally used term for a Malay sailor. In the French army the term is applied to a bold, devil-may-care fellow..

Late-play (Westminster School),

a half-holiday, or holiday be

ginning at noon. Lather, to (popular), to beat, thrash. My father is a barber,

And is unkind to me,
So I'd rather lather father,
Than father lather me.

- Popular Song. Latty (theatrical), a bed. Vide

LETTY. La Launch, to (Winchester College),

to pull a bed over a “man."

Lashins (Irish), large quantities. Lashool (tinker), nice. Irish,

“lachool." Lass, to (American, Western), to

catch with the lasso, lariat, or reata.

It don't pay to have fellows blazing off their revolvers, and stampeding the cattle, and spurring their horses on the shoulders, and always going on a lape, and driving cattle at a lape too, and lassing steers by the fore feet on the trail, and throwing 'em head over heels, just for the satisfaction of hearing the thud they make when they fall.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Last of the Barons (legal), a

nickname given to the “Baron of Exchequer” last appointed, sinna afterwards the Court of Exchequer was done away with, and merged in that of Queen's Bench, and no more barons would therefore be appointed.

Lavender-cove (popular), a pawn. broker. So called because property is there laid up“in laven.

der." Lavender, in (turf), is said of a

man or horse to denote that he is ill, unfit, out of the way. Most people are tired of waiting for the Beaver, who was put down as certain to win one of the early spring handicaps, but so far has been in lavender.—Bird o' Freedom

(Common), laid in lavender, put away, pawned, or left in lodging for debt. From the practice of placing lavender in drawers in which clothes are kept.

(Thieves), hidden from the police. Lawful time (Winchester College),

at the end of “log-time," or preparation on a “remedy" or holiday, the prefect on duty calls out lawful time, as an an

Last run of shad, the (American).

To say that a man looks as if he had come in the last run of shad, is equivalent to declaring that he has a verythin, wretched, forlorn, or “played-out” appearance. To be “in the last of pea-time," signifies a hard-up and poverty-stricken condition.

Lawn-Lay.

nouncement that all may leave study.

And a boy with a catapult

A layin for the cat;
The cat's name is Susan,

The boy's name is Jim;
And his father round the corner
Is a layin by for him.

-American Ballad. Lay it on, to (common), to ex

aggerate.

The member who moved an amendment throwing responsibility upon the employé as well as the employer was told he was “laying it on too thick," and the amend. ment was defeated.-Funny Folks. Lay one out, to (roughs and

thieves), to kill one.

Several of the prisoners were with him. Galletly was saying, “I've laid one out" to the other prisoners. ... Witness also saw the knife, and there was blood on it half way up the steel.--Evening News.

Lawn, the (sporting), Ascot Lawn.
Lay (thieves and roughs), par-

ticular business, line of work,
pursuit, enterprise.
Kept a leaving shop-a sort of unlicensed
pawnbroker's, you know ... that wos
his lay for years.-J. Greenwood: Dick
Temple.

A dodge, swindle.
To a constable he told the misadventure of

the day,
But the man in blue responded, “It's a

very common lay, Did she talk about a child, sir ?" Said

the innocent, "She did.”
“I thought so," said the officer—"but,
bless you, that's her kid !”

-Sporting Times.
Alas, that writer kept it, too,
Reminded me of debts long due,
Then lodged me safe in Holloway
The victim of a heartless lay.

-Bird o' Freedom.
On the lay, at work.
Dodger! Charley! It's time you were
on the lay.—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

In America (north-east coast),
a lay is a share in a venture.

(Tailors), a good lay, an economical method of cutting, or when a man is doing any. thing that will be beneficial to

himself or others. Lay down the knife and fork, to

(common), to die.
Layer. Vide To LAY.
Lay for, to (American), to lie in

wait for, to ambush. Also “to
lay by for."
There's a cat in the garden

A layin for a rat,

Lay out (American), a turn.

“It's my lay out," i.e., it's my turn. “Boys, yer got me this time. They've called her 'Utella!' as near my name as they could get, and it's my lay out. What'll ye hev?”

The glasses clinked merrily, and Mr. Bill beamed with happiness.--New York Star

Lay over, to (American), to de

feat, excel, surpass. Probably derived from wrestling. “Can you write?”

“Well, I've seed people could lay me over, thar.”—Mark Twain: A Tramp Abroad.

“In scolding a blue jay can lay over
anything human or divine.” — Mark
Twain : A Tramp Abroad.
Lay them down, to (thieves), to

play cards.
Lay, to (turf), to bet for or

against.

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Leafless tree (old cant), the gal

lows. Oh! there never was life like the robber's

-So Jolly, and bold, and free; And its end-why, a cheer from the crowd

below, And a leap from a leafless tree!

- Lord Lytton: Paul Clifford. Lean (printers), this is a metaphor

used to indicate solid or bad paying work in contradistinction to “ fat” or good work.

Leanaway (slangy Australian),

one who is tipsy. The metaphor is of course from the

drunkard's reeling. Leap the book (common), a false

marriage, or one which is illegal.

He overheard one noble penciller tell another ominously that “he could lay the favourite."--Bird o' Freedom.

To lay the field, vide FIELD. (Common), to lay one's shirt on a horse, to lay all one's money

on a horse. Lead (theatrical), the most im.

portant part in a play. Miss — who returned from abroad yesterday, has, we learn, refused to entertain an offer to play "the lead” in the old English comedies at the Strand Theatre. Daily News.

(Thieves), lead, or friendly lead, a collection made for one "in trouble.”

I was landed without them getting me a lead (collection). — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Lead or leader (Australian min

ing slang), a vein of gold.

The leader is the vein or deposit of gold in an Australian gold mine: said always to run north and south, which if it be true is a phenomenon of magnetism. In size, form, and value, the precious metal within a certain area will present great diversities. Sometimes the leader from which the gold is presumably discharged could be identified if it were not that specimens of an entirely opposite character embedded in greenstone, some. times combined both with greenstone and quartz, sometimes with quartz alone. Often it is as fine as flour, again it will range from “colours” to nuggets of several ounces. It may be worth only.£2, 18s. per ounce: it may and does assay £3, 18s. and €4.- Queenslander. Leading juvenile (theatrical),

the expression explains itself. Corresponds to the jeune premier of the French.

Hamlet is the “ lead,” Laertes the lead. ing juvenile, and Horatio, though an excellent pal, is known as the walking gentleman.-Globe.

Leary (popular and thieves),

wide - awake, knowing, wary.
Leary-bloke, a knowing or art-
ful man.
But mummery and slummery

You must keep in your mind,
For every day, mind what I say,

Fresh fakements you will find.
But stick to this while you can crawl,
To stand till you're obliged to fall;
And when you're wide-awake to all,
You'll be a leary man.

-The Leary Man. From lear or lere, to learn, obsolete or provincial English. On that sad book his shame and loss he leared.

-Spenser. Leary cum Fitz (theatrical), a

vulgar, impudent minor theatre actor, is usually described as

a regular Leary cum Fitz. Leather (American thieves), a

pocket-book.

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He burst out into a grin, when the magistrate, who was up to his little game, suddenly asked him if he remembered how a certain elderly gentleman had been robbed of his pocket-book while going on board a steam ferry-boat. “Don't I just remember," he cried, “how we lifted' the old bloke's 'leather.'”-American Newspaper.

(Football), the leather, the football. Leather-head (Canadian), a swin

dler.

Now the Senator is only a leather-head, who made his pile by such and such a swindle, and the parson is a gospel-shark, or devil-dodger.-Phillipps-Wolley: Trottings of a Tenderfoot.

Leather-hunting (cricket), this

term is sometimes used to mean fielding. A leather-hunting game is one in which there is much

fielding to be done. Leather-necks (naval), a term

for soldiers; from their leather stock, which to a sailor, with his neck free of any hindrance, must appear such an uncom

fortable appliance. Leathers (popular), the ears,

otherwise “lugs." Leather, to (popular), to beat. Leaving shop (thieves and

others), an unlicensed pawnbroker's establishment.

Leer (old cant), a print, a news

paper; old English lere, to learn. Leet jury (popular), explained by

quotation.

The meddlesome fellows who had caused the disagreeable exposure were called a leet jury, whose business it was to pounce on evil-doers whenever they thought fit, once in the course of every month.-). Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Left forepart (tailors), the wife. Left-handed wife (common), a

mistress. Left, or sinister, is in all languages applied to that which is doubtful or bad. In gypsy bongo means left-handed, crooked, or evil. Compare the French “mariage de la main

gauche.”
Left, over the. Vide OVER THE

LEFT.
Leg (turf), abbreviation for black-

leg, a bookmaker or ring-man. Leg-bail, to give (common), to

run away, or decamp from lia

bility. Leggings (popular), a name for

stockings. Leg it, to (popular), to run. Legs (American cadet), a nick.

name given to a tall lanky
man, one who is sparely and

angularly built.
Legs and arms (tailors), beer

without any “body” in it.
Lel (gypsy), to take, to arrest.

Not uncommon among the lower
orders in London. The writer
has heard “Look out, or you'll

Led captain, a fashionable sponger

or “swell,” who by artifice ingratiates himself into the favour of the master of the house, and lives at his table (Hotten).

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get lelled,” said by one young girl to another within a few

few steps of Regent Street. It is from the third person indicative present, lela; first person, lava, I take. This use of the third person for all the others is usual in posh an' posh (half and half), or corrupted Romany,

and it occurs in Hindustani. Length (theatrical), an arbitrary

division of a part into so many components, after this fashion. Hamlet is thirty-seven lengths, and seventeen lines. Each length is forty-two lines. Actors do not learn their parts, they “study” them, and they measure each part by lengths.-Globe.

(Thieves), six months' imprisonment. Let her flicker (American), said:

of any doubtful issue, the simile being that of a flame flickering in a draught of air, when it is doubtful whether it will be blown out or not. It may be remarked that in American slang there is more metaphor than in

that of any other country. Let her up! Let 'er up! (Ame

rican), stop there, be quiet for an instant, hear what I have to say. This agrees exactly with the Dutch Let 'er op! Let 'er op wat ik se zeg! “Mark

what I say to ye.” Let his marbles go with the

monkey, to (American), an eccentric phrase derived from a story of a boy whose marbles were carried off by a monkey.

But my sanguinary hearers—let 'em try it. Dey'll find dat Yankee Doodle ain't de boy to luff his marbles go wid de monkey-not by a free (three) pint-jug full --for he's bound to go ahead and let 'er rip.-Brudder Bones's Complete Entertainment. Let in, to (society), to cause to

lose money by not very upright means; it is a common expression in society. To let in a friend is a low trick, and means to deceive, defraud, trick him.

It is their friends and acquaintances who are let in by them. - Saturday Review.

(American), to attack, beat, abuse.

“I let in to the coot about east, I can tell yer,” remarked Jake. “I gave him my opinion of himself, and threw in a character, gratis, of all his relations, all the way down to his aunt's sisters."Fireplug Moses. Let it slide (American, of English

origin), leave it to chance, leave it alone, do without it. The metaphor is of course that of watching a thing slip without attempting to save it.

Let on, to (English and American),

to appear to know or to show any acquaintance with a subject with which one may be quite familiar. Now, if I wanted to be one of those ponderous scientific people, and let on to prove what had occurred in the remote past, by what had occurred in a given time in the recent past, or what will occur in the far future by what has occurred in late years, what an opportunity is here! Geology never had such a chance, nor such exact data to argue from.-Mark Τουαίη.

Letter — Levant.

13

pearance of artificial causes of depression in themoney-market, thus causing money to become “ tighter" and loans more diffi

cult to obtain. Let up on, to (American), to

cease, to pause, rest, give over for a time. You can't be mum-you cannot sing, You cannot always smile, You must let up on everything From time to time awhile.

-A Poem : Susan of Poughkeepsie.

Also to admit, as, he never let
on he knew me.
Letter perfect (theatrical), know-

ing one's part perfectly.
Let the band play (American),

equivalent to calling out for anything to begin, to start anything up, commence. A common cry to an orator to begin, or an exhortation to a speaker, actor, or any other person to let himself out, or make an effort (C. Leland Harrison's MS. Collection of Americanisms).

In England it is common to say, when anything reaches a climax, “ Then the band played.”

Tableau, and the band played.-Bird • Freedom. Letting down, or out, tucks

(American), a phrase referring to making preparations, for example, in a building, with a view to future alterations. It is borrowed from the custom of making the trousers of rapidly growing boys or the dresses of girls with tucks, so that they may be let out or lengthened.

In England, let down easily, means not taking advantage, or being lenient with one in

Levanter (common), a card

sharper, or defaulting gambler, who makes himself scarce. Vide To LEVANT. No prelusive murmurs had run before this wild levanter of change.-De Quincey. Levant, to (common), to go to

the Levant, that is, to run away from one's creditors, to abscond; to throw or run a levant, to play or stake and leave without paying in case of loss. Never mind that, man (having no money to stake), run a levant ... but be circumspect about the man.-Fielding : Tom Jones.

To levant, run a levant, originated in a pun on the words leave (provincial leve), and Levant. Compare with the French "faire voile en Levant," to purloin or steal, and the Italian “andare in Levante, venire di Levante," to carry away, steal, which are respectively from a play on lever and levare, to raise, lift. These phrases belong to the numerous class of jocular expressions coined in the same way with allusions to some

difficulty.

Letty (thieves), a bed; from the

Italian letto. Used in the form
“latty” by strolling actors,

with whom the term originated. Let up (Stock Exchange), a term

to express the sudden disap

Levant-Libkins.

The phrase has become uni. versal within a few years.

locality, as to be off to Bedfordshire or Land of Nod, to feel sleepy; to go to Peckham, feel hungry, formerly Hungarian ; those in bad circumstances are made to live in Queer Street, &c. In French we meet with punning phrases of the same class, “aller à Niort (nier),” to deny, the name of this town being suggested to the pedlars (who so much contributed to argot language) by the frequency of their visits to Niort, formerly famous for its fairs. "Aller à Versailles (verser),” to be upset; “aller à Cachan (se cacher)," to conceal oneself; "aller à Rouen (ruine),” to be ruined, a bankrupt; “ voyager en Cornouaille (être cornard),” to be made a cuckold (same metaphor in Italian); “envoyer à Mortagne (mort),” to kill; “aller à Patras (ad patres),” to die, &c. In Italian, “andar in Picardia, a Longone, a Fuligno," to be

hanged, &c. Level best (American), when a man does the best he can, plainly, squarely, and fairly, not extravagantly, but by his average ability. Let this be put upon his grave, He done his level best,

-Vewspaper Poems. Saying this he drew a wallet from the

inner of his vest, And gave the tramp a dollar which it was his level best.

-The Ballad of Charity. Level-headed (American), a man

of plain, practical common sense is said to be level-headed.

Levite (clerical), a term some

times used by beneficed divines of humble brethren whom they hire. The origin is to be found in the story of Micah and the young man of Bethlehem-Judah

in Judges xvii. 7-13. Levy (Liverpool), a shilling. A

term taken in all probability from the American levy, i.e., an abbreviation of elevenpenny bit, also commonly called a shilling. Hotten suggests that it is derived from levy, a term used among labourers for a sum of money advanced to a workman before he has earned it. There is a very great number of American terms current in Liverpool owing to its intimate commercial relations with New York.

Libb, libbege (old cant), a bed.

“Mill the cull to his long libb,” kill the man. From the Irish

leaba. Liberties (Eton), an immunity

from all fagging for the first

ten days. Liberty (Eton School), the first

six Oppidans, and the first six Oppidans in Fifth Form, who work with Sixth Form under the Head Master. (Nautical), liberty-man, a man on leave;

liberty-ticket, a pass. Libkins, lipken (old cant), house,

lodgings. From lib or lip, to

Libkins-Lifter.

15

sleep, and ken, a general term
for house, dwelling.
I will not conceal aught I win out of
libkins, or from the ruffmans, but will
preserve it for the use of the company.-
Bampfylde-Moore Carew.
Library-cads (Winchester Col-

lege), two juniors who have to
keep the library in order, that

they may set off other fagging.
Lib, to (thieves), to sleep.
Lick and a promise (popular), a
wash of an imperfect nature.
“I'll just give my face a lick and
a promise,” i.e., will do it more
thoroughly later on. Also in
general use to signify a cheap
temporary remedy and repair
for anything. Miss Baker in her
"Glossary of Northamptonshire
Words" erroneously claimed

this as a provincialism. Licker (popular), " that's a licker

to me,” that “licks” me, is above my reach, beyond my

conception. Lickety split (American). This means headlong, or at full speed. It also implies sometimes go fast by exertion. There is an old English expression “to put in big licks,” to do one's best, also to lick, to beat, which probably gives the origin of this expression. Lickety split is synonymous with the equally elegant phrase “full chisel." He went lickety split down hill. Lickety cut and lickety liner are also used.-Bart. lett: Dictionary of Americanisms. Lick into fits, to (common), to

give a good thrashing.

Lickspittle (common), a parasite,

a cringing fellow. The French

lèche-bottes. Lie low, to (American), to keep

to one's bed. Lie off, to (turf), to make a wait

ing race by keeping some disstance in rear of the other horses. A jockey is said to "lie out of his ground” when he pushes the lying-off tactics to excess, and gets so far behind that he has little or no chance

of making up the lost ground. Lifer (thieves), a man sentenced

to penal servitude for life.

They know what a clever lad he is ; he'll be a lifer. They'll make the Art. ful nothing less than a lifer. — Charles Dickens : Oliver Twist.

Miss — would make it up with the comic villain if she could, but his comicality is too much for her, so he probably gets “a lifer.”—Referee.

Tillrecently there wasa distinc-
tion between being sentenced to
penal servitude for life and for
natural life. Good conduct
might cause the release after
some twenty-four years of a
person sentenced for life, e.g.,
Constance Kent. The writer
has had under him in prison a
man who had endured a life
sentence, got out, and got in
again.
Lift (football players), a kick at

football.
Lifter (old cant), a thief. Used
by Shakspeare in “Troilus and
Cressida.” The word survives in
shop-lifter, one who steals from

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tent, it is specially used by printers, being usually applied to credit at a public-house. While a man can obtain this he is safe from having his light

put out. Light bob (military), light in

fantry soldier.

a shop, but does not apply to
one who steals in a shop by false
weight and measure, and adul-

terated goods. Also a crutch. Lift, to (thieves), to steal.

At one time I had a very pleasant companion whose speciality was stealing cattle. He was a Newcastle man, and had done three “laggings" for lifting cattle. Evening News.

This should be naturally understood in the sense of taking off, removing, just as in French slang soulever, to raise, to lift, means to steal; but the Rev. A. Smythe Palmer's “Folk Etymology" says, “It has nothing to do with lift, raise, but is (like graf-t for graff), an incorrect form of liff, cognate with Gothic hliffan, Latin clepere, Greek kléptein, to steal. Klepto-mania is a mania

for lifting.” And so whan a man wold bryng them to

thryft, They wyll hym rob, and fro his good hym luft.

-The Hye Way to the Spyttel

Hous. A lift or lifter is an old word for a thief or shop-lifter; it now means a theft.

Is he so young a man and so old a lifter?-Shakspeare: Troilus and Cressida.

Women are more subtile ... than the cunningestfoyst, nip, lift. - Greene : Theeves falling out.

(Sport), to lift in a walking race is to lift your knees unduly into a run or shamble, to break into an unfair walk or trot.

Light feeder (thieves), a silver

spoon.
Light frigate (old cant), a woman

of loose morals.
Lightmans (old cant), night.
Or else he sweares by the lightmans
To put our stamps in the Harmans.

-T. Dekker : Lanthorne and

Candle-Light.
Light - master (printers). This

term is applied to the man who acts as a “go-between” between the landlord of the house of call and the workmen that avail themselves of it. He is generally one of the workmen of a large establishment, and introduces new clients, and arranges matters, and gives the landlord the “tip" in case the indebted one should be leaving his situation, and thus probably avoiding payment.

Lightning (common), a name for

gin.

The man holds out a tin mug in his dirt - begrimed hand. According to his views, this is the first step of hospitality. She sniffs cautiously..

“Don't like its smell.”
" It's lightning."

The child takes a gulp of the raw spirit,
chokes, coughs, and bursts into angry
sobs.-Savage London.

Light (popular), though a popu

lar slang term to a certain ex

Lightning-Limb.

A flash of lightning, a glass of gin.

Charley Dix, cut his sticks, like bricks.

-Punch. This morning did my laundress bring

My shirt back in a stew,
Says she, “If I wash this again,

I shall wash it into two."
"Into two !"I cried, “you don't mean that?

Go, wash away like bricks,
For you'll be doing me a service
If you'll wash it into six."

- Popular Song. Like one o'clock (popular),

rapidly. “She tipped off her twopen'orth like one o'clock.”

Lightning changers, shifters

(American), women thieves who can in a minute, by adroit and ingenious manipulation, change their dress in a most extraordinary manner. The process is fully described in the following extract from the Chicago Tribune :She was arrayed in the garments of a lightning change artist, and could, without the removal of an article, change her dress into four distinct styles. When arrested she wore a black cashmere dress, a tightfitting bodice of the same colour and material, and a hat with a wide brim. A swift displacement of hooks, eyes, and buttons, a deft adjustment of unseen fastenings here and there, a crushing squeeze of the hat, and the woman stood with a brown woollen dress with corded front bodice, and a neat little turban upon her head. Another set of manipulations and the dress was transformed into a gown, the turban gave place to a coif, a chaplet fell from the girdle, and the woman stood arrayed as a brown nun. Once more a tug of the skirt, a yank at the coif and waist, a flash of the hands, everywhere at once, and the nun was transformed into a young lady of aspiring fashion, in bright-coloured alpaca and the original wide-brimmed hat.

There is also a dress worn by women of this class in Paris, consisting of all the garments in one, so made that in a few seconds the whole may be slipped off, and the wearer be left in cuerpo.

Lil (gypsy and common canting),

a book, a paper or document or letter, a five-pound note. In American gypsy a lil is a dollar, also a bad bank-bill. In canting, a pocket-book. Gypsies call a

purse a kissi or gunno. Lily Benjamin (popular), a long · white coat, such as worn by

umpires at cricket. Lim (university), from Dr.

Limeon of King's; an evangelically-minded student, a “piman.” (American), a funny

fellow or clown.
Limb, an angry epithet applied to

an ill-tempered child or woman.
An abbreviation of limb of the
devil.
“Now listen, you young limb,” whis-
pered Sikes, drawing a dark lantern from
his pocket, and throwing the glare full on
Oliver's face, “I'm a going to push you
through there.”—Dickens: Oliver Twist.

A young or obscure lawyer is
vulgarly called a limb of the
law, or a limb of Satan. The
word, according to Halliwell's
“ Archaic Dictionary,” generally

Lights or top-lights (popular),

the eyes.

Like bricks (popular), quickly,
with energy.
VOL. II.

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rate of remuneration yclept lineage, sufficient to provide him with whisky and cigarettes.-Bird o' Freedon.

Linen, the curtain in a theatre.

In Ireland they say, “Up with

the linen and make a beginnin'." Linen arbours (American cadet),

the dormitories.

seems to imply deterioration; a limb was even held to signify a determined sensualist. Aman overmuch addicted to a thing was anciently said to be a limb

for it. Limburger, the real (American),

used grotesquely in many ways, especially to anything actually or genuinely German. The Limburg cheese has a strong smell, which is intolerable to those who are not accustomed to it, for which reason it is sometimes called “knock me

down at forty rods." Lime basket (popular), as dry as

a lime basket, very thirsty. Mr. Chitling wound up his observations by stating that he had not touched a drop of anything for forty-two mortal long hard-working days ; and that "he wished he might be busted if he warn't as dry as a lime basket.”—Charles Dickens. Lime juicer (nautical), a nick.

name given by Americans to English vessels and seamen on account of the compulsory practice of serving out lime juice as

an anti-scorbutic. Line (tailors), a job line is an

occasional clearance; a bargain. (Common), on the line, a picture is said to be hung on the line at the Royal Academy when it is in the best position, that is, at the height of the spectator's

eye. Lineage (journalistic), contribu

tion to a newspaper paid at so
much a line.
He was a struggling young writer,

writer. already engaged on two weeklies, at a

Liner (studios), a picture hung

up high at the exhibition. (Journalistic), a casual reporter. Diminutive of penny-a-liner

(Hotten). Lines (theatrical), an actor's own

part which he has to learn. It may happen that an actor will know nothing whatever of the play in which he is taking part beyond his own lines and the cues which guide him.

(West America), explained by quotation. Without stopping the coach-horses or his own, Billy scrambled upon the vehicle with his post-bags, and relieved the driver of the lines.-H. L. Williams : In the Wild West.

Lines, on (printers), an expres

sion used by compositors to intimate that the companionship is in full swing. Mostly used to indicate the resumption of business after “cutting the line.” A reference to the fact that their earnings depend on the number of lines composed.

Line, to get in a (popular), to

hoax.

Lingo (Pop
Lingo (popular), language,

speech, slang. Latin, lingua.

Lint-scraper— Little.

Lint-scraper (medical), a young
and inexperienced medical man.
Applied by Mr. Batchelor to Mr.
Drencher, M.R.C.S.I., together
with other expletives, as pestle-
grinder, &c., in Thackeray's

“Lovel the Widower.”
Lintys (theatrical), a name

associated with sprites. Pos

sibly from the French lutins. Lionesses (Oxford), ladies visiting

an Oxford man.
Lip (popular), talk, impudence.
Lipey (popular), a common mode

of address among the lowest
class. “What cher, lipey, if you
see my Rachel, slap her chops,
and send her 'ome.” Possibly

from the German liebe.
Lip-lap, a vulgar and disparaging

nickname given in the Dutch East Indies to Eurasians, and corresponding to the AngloIndian chee-chee (Anglo-Indian Glossary). Lip, to give (nautical), to chatter,

to prattle, Liquor up (common), a drink.

To liquor up, to partake of alcoholic drink, generally at a bar. Of American origin, but the expression has become very common in all English-speaking countries. I had a thirsty neighbour next door, and so I accepted the offer of a liquor up. -Evening News.

The report of his mission included that he had passed the portals of the "Three Stoats” and “had liquored up" with the worthy landlord.-J. Greenwood : Dick Temple.

Lispers (old cant), the lips. The

derivation is obvious. Lissum (popular), pliant, supple. List, on the (popular), in dis

favour. An abbreviation of the well-known “on the black list." It was introduced in a popular opera, “The Mikado," and since that time has been very

general. Listening backwards (common),

or as in Ireland, “walking backwards.” Those who do these things are regarded as having the “evil eye,” and also the misuse of any faculty or talent.

Listening and walking backwards is
considered unlucky in Ireland, and chil-
dren are cautioned carefully to avoid both,
on the ground that God has given them
faculties to be rightly used, and not con-
trary to the manner for which these were
designed. I have often seen the children of
the peasantry severely reprimanded, and
not unfrequently punished, for breaches
of the direct natural law of the sense of
hearing and the order of motion.--Notes
and Queries.
Little ben (thieves), a waist-

coat.
Little church round the corner

(American), a slang term for a

drinking-place.
Little end of the horn (American),

an expression first made popu-
lar in the Jack Downing Let-
ters. Bartlett defines “coming
out at the little end of the horn"
as being said when a ridicu-
lously small effect has been
produced after great effort and
much boasting. It would be
more correct to define it as fail-

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ing or coming to loss, grief, or poverty in any way. Probably derived from old drinking customs. He who missed at guessing riddles was obliged to drink from the little end or tip of the horn while the victor drank from the brim. The horn seems in popular parlance to be connected with evil, contrary to old folk-lore, which made it a symbol of abundance and a protection against evil. “In a horn" is a refusal, or a qualification of falsehood. Horns denote a cuckold, and hornswoggle means mere nonsense or humbug.

grandiloquent assurance the island has ever since been

satirically called Little England. Little go (Cambridge University),

a public examination held early in the course, “which,” says Lyell, “from its being less strict or less important in its consequences than the final one, has received this appellation." . . . whether a regular attendance on the lecture of the college would secure me a qualification against my first public examination; which is here called the little go.- The Etonian.

Also called at Oxford "smalls.” You must be prepared with your list of books, your Testament for responsions (by undergraduates called little go or “smalls"), and also your certificate of matriculation.—Collegians' Guide.

Little Hell, explained by quota

tion.

There are few worse places in London than certain parts of Cow Cross, especially that part of it anciently known as Jack Ketch's Warren, or Little Hell, as the inhabitants more commonly designate it, on account of the number of subjects it produced for the operations of the common hangman.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Little England (West Indian),

Barbados. The inhabitants of this island rightly or wrongly are credited with egregious selfcomplacency and esteem. The following is the incident which led to this sobriquet being given to the miniature island in the Caribbean Sea, which to tell the truth is intensely British in everything compared to the other islands. Charles II. was in exile; he had lost his throne, and there seemed little chance of his ever recovering it. The plucky Brins, who were royalist to the backbone, then sent a humble address to the exiled king, “bidding him be of good cheer and stout of heart, reminding him in his exile that all was not lost, for, although all the world might be against him, Barbados was ever at his back.” In consequence of this

Little man (Eton), a footman.

He called the footman (or little man, as was the generic term for this class of domestic at my tutor's), and bade him reach down the obnoxious placard. To hear in this case was, unfortunately, not to obey. Little man visited the roof, reconnoitred the position, felt his own weakness, and, coming down, confessed to the tutor that he “dursna do it!"-Sketchy Memoirs of Eton. Little off, a (American, also

English), slightly incorrect or erroneous, insane, poor, re21

Little-Liza.

served. From a term used by
dealersin diamonds, “off colour.”

Your reply to "three Tribune subscribers” in this morning's Tribune in regard to private secretaries of United States Senators is a little off. - Chicago Tribune,

After that he was always a little off, as he had no money left, or friends to help him. He was a queer fellow, that old man, and he had a gait in walking I shall never forget.-Chicago Tribune.

(Common), little off colour, unwell, slightly intoxicated. Little side (Rugby), a term ap

plied to all games at Rugby organised from a “house" standard, e.g., little side football.

in Europe, what is required is not a man who “knows French,” or who has been to college, or moved in society, but a “live practical man," plainly indicating that in the mind of the editor in question there is a direct antagonism between education and capacity to fill responsible offices. Of late live, extended from America to England, has begun to signify excellence, even in inanimate objects. So Maria and me goes to a big 'ouse in a fried fish and whelk-stall sort o' neighbourhood. We goes up ever so many stairs till we gets into a enormous attic at the top, when you 'as to pass mysterious like through a big curting. The attic had all its walls covered with noosepapers in foreign languages, and proclamations was stuck up with big borders, as reminded me of the big posters of “a wholesale grocery store will open on Saturday night. A real live glass milk-jug and a splendid pair of plated tongs given to every lady that buys one pound of our two-shilling Bohea."-Fun: Murdle Visiting.

Livener (military), an early morn

ing drink.

Little snakesman (thieves), a

young thief who is passed through an aperture to let in

the others. Live (American), not only alive,

but also intelligent, vigorous, and progressive. “A live Yankee.” In the Western newspapers “a live man" seems to generally signify one who is vigorous and intelligent but un. educated, in accordance with a popular belief that an individual who has never been to school, or at least who has had only the simplest education, must naturaily be far better qualified for positions requiring culture and knowledge than any other. The writer has before him a number of one of the most widely circulated journals in America, in which it is editorially asserted that to fill diplomatic appointments

Liverpool tailor (tailors), one who

sits with his hat and coat on, ready for the road.

Live to the door, to (popular),

to live up to one's means. A variant is, to live up to the

knocker (which see). Living gale (nautical), a fearful

storm. Liza (popular), generally used in

the injunction, “Outside, Liza!” that is, be off, addressed to any person.

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Loaded for bears (American).

This expression signifies that a man is slightly intoxicated, enough to feel ready to confront danger. Equivalents for it are, a little shot, soothed, a

little set up. Loaded to the gunwales (Ameri

can), intoxicated, full.

Sis said she was afraid you'd come home and make it lively for em, but Sis' beau said he guessed you wouldn't come home and make any trouble, as he saw you at a sample-room loaded to the gunwales. What did he mean ?-St. Paul Globe. Load on (American). A man

who walks unsteadily, owing to intoxication, is said to have a load on, “to be loaded,” “to have a turkey on his back," i.e., to have more than he can carry. Also “He walks like he was carrying a pig, and a darned discontented one at that.” Also English.

to idlers and hangers-about of every description. The term is now recognised and in common use in England. There have been many suggestions as to the origin of this now familiar word. Bartlett declares, rather boldly, that it came into the United States "probably from Mexico or Texas, and derives it from the Spanish gallofero, or gallofo, a vagabond.” But this would imply the first Mexican war, at least, as the date of its advent. The word loafer, however, was common in New England and Philadelphia in 1834, 1835, but it was generally applied by boys to “pilfering." They would say in jest, “Where did you loaf that?” Loafer, merely as a drunken, thievish bummer, succeeded this.

At this time all the sketches of the genus loafer represented him as a petty pilferer, one who carried a gimlet and tube with him to steal whisky from the barrels, and who was popularly regarded as a lazy sponger of food and garments. In the first year of the New York Herald, and in the sketches of J. C. Neal as well as in other “life pictures" of the time, the loafer is always a pilfering bummer of the lowest class. It was several years before the word was extended to mean a flâneur of any kind whatever. Bartlett says that “the origin of this word is altogether uncertain. Two etymologies have been suggested for it; namely, the German laufer,

Load up, to (American), a term

peculiar to the Stock Exchange, meaning to obtain or accumulate.

The few men who make money in Wall Street speculation sell when the crowd is clamouring to buy, as they have been the last week, and the many who lose always rush in on such occasions to load up to the extent of their ability.-Stock Report.

Loafer (military), a soldier em.

ployed on the staff, or in any capacity that takes him from his regular “sentry-go” duty. Vide OUTFITTER.

(American), originally a pilfering vagabond ; now applied

Loafer-Lobster.

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a runner (compare the Dutch Leeglooper and landlooper, a vagrant), and the Spanish gallofero, abbreviated gallofo, whence the Italian gagloffo (?), a wandering mendicant, a vagabond. The Spanish gallofa means what was given to the galloferos, alms, vegetables, &c.” It may here be observed that laufer in German thieves' slang is the abbreviate of landlaufer, which means exactly and precisely a tramp or loafer in its later American sense. As regards the Dutch, there is in its low slang the word loever, from loeven, to go (gaan), to stroll about; but with the sense of going astray or out of the course. Compare (says Teirlinck) with loeven, op zee van den koers ofwijken, op side sturen (to go aside out of the courseto luff). Loever is pronounced almost like loafer, and meaning the same, that is, one who idly strolls here and there, allows but little room for doubt as to its New York derivation. In old English cant loaver was the same with loure, to steal, as well as money. It would seem as if it had kept an unnoticed place in English slang, and then in America been influenced by or combined with the Dutch loever, or loefer, f being synonymous with v.

one loafed rather energetically, for he was hot and frantic in his play.-H. Kingsley: Ravenshoe.

(American University), to borrow anything, generally without

any intention of returning it. Loaver (popular), money. From

the gypsy louver, specie, or

coin. Lob (thieves), a till; properly

something heavy. Lob-sneaking, stealing the contents of tills. To pinch a lob has the same signification. Lob-crawler, a thief who crawls into a shop, and behind the counter, to rifle the till.

Poor old Tim, the lob-crawler, fell from Racker and got pinched.--Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Also a box, snuff-box. (Pugi. listic), the head. Properly a

large lump.
Lobber or looper (American),
run, curdled, coagulated, run
together. A New York term,
from the Dutch loopen, to run;
hy heft de loop, he has a loose-
ness; een loopend water, run-
ning water. Bartlett says very
correctly that the proper term

is loppered.
Loblolly boy, a derisive term for

a surgeon's mate in the navy.
Loblolly is water-gruel, or spoon
meat.

Loaf, to, an Americanism which

has become a recognised word, to idle about. Shoeblacks are compelled to a great deal of unavoidable loafing ; but certainly this

Lobster(popular). Sailors dressed

in blue were vulgarly called raw
lobsters in the first five decades
of the present century, and sol-
diers were called boiled lobsters

Lobster-box—Loco-foco.

from the colour of their coats. Soldiers were sometimes and are still called crabs. The name of lobster has been in later times transferred to the policeman.

Lobster-box (popular), a barrack. Lobster, to (Winchester College),

to weep, which makes the eyes

and face red. Lock jailors), “on the lock,”

attending to prisoners. (Old cant), a receiver of stolen goods.

That woman they spoke to is a lock, alias receiver and buyer of stolen goods. -Hitchin: A True Discovery, &C.

Abbreviated from “ lock all fast,” which had the same meaning. The lock, the magazine or warehouse whither the thieves carry stolen goods. Lock, also chance, , means of livelihood. “He stood a queer lock," he stood an indifferent chance. “What lock do you cut?” how do you get your livelihood ? In this sense it seems to be the same word as lurk, which has the same meaning. It must be remembered that in many canting diction. aries distortions of words con

stantly occur. Lockees (Westminster School),

lock-house. Locker (old cant), explained by

quotation. I am a locker, I leave goods at a house and borrow money on them, pretending that they are made in London.-Hitchin: A True Discovery, &C.

Vide Lock.

Lock, stock, and barrel (Ameri.

can). Bartlett says of this phrase that it means the whole, a figurative expression borrowed from sportsmen and having reference to a gun. Sometimes we hear horse, foot, and artillery used in the same phrase. It is also very commonly used to say that anything has been so renewed that nothing of the original is left, from the story of a fine gun which had belonged to General Washington or some other great man, and of which certain portions were new, such as the lock, stock, barrel, and ramrod. Also used in reference to a knife which had a new blade, and then a new handle, and again a new blade, and so on for many restorations, but which “was

still the same old knife.” Lock-ups (Harrow School), de

tention in study. Loco-foco (American). Bartlett

defines this, as “ 1. A self-ignit-
ing match (or cigar); 2. the
name by which the Democratic
party was (till within a few
years) extensively distinguished
throughout the United States.”
He also gives the history of the
match, and how its name came
to be applied to the Democrats,
all of which the writer can con-
firm from memory. It is very
doubtful, however, whether the
matches took their name from
“locomotive.” The wild flash
which the first matches made
when "snapped off” was greatly

Loco-foco-Logy.

25

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admired. They were sold in combs of about twenty matches in the piece, 144 matches costing 12 cents (6d.). This was in 1834, 1835. Boys regarded them as a kind of fireworks. The writer was the first to introduce them to his school, and to a large rural neighbourhood, where they excited as much astonishment as they now do among savages. He has always been under the impression since early boyhood that the name is derived from a barbarous combination of loco, the Spanish for “mad,” and foco (i.e. fuego), “fire,” literally wild-fire. Marck, the inventor or patentee, had in all probability the German word irrlicht, as well as the English “wild-fire,” to guide him in the name.

Log-rolling (American), explained

as follows by the Cornhill Magazine: “Log-rolling is a somewhat rare term in England, but is well understood at Washington. When a backwoodsman cuts down trees, his neighbours help him to roll them away, and in return he helps them with their trees; so in Congress, when members support a bill, not because they are interested therein, but simply to gain the help of its promoters for some scheme of their own, their action is called log-rolling." A log-rolling in America, where neighbours meet to bring logs together to build a house, is generally made the occasion of a frolic.

Locomotive (American), a drink

made of half of the yolk of an egg, a tablespoonful of honey, a dash of curaçoa, a flavouring of cloves, all whisked thoroughly together in a quarter of a pint of hot Burgundy. A winter drink.

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Logy (American), dull, slow,

awkward; "he's a regular logy."
Also loggy, i.e., like a log. It
would seem also to be derived
from the Dutch log, heavy, slow,
unwieldy. Een log verstand, a
dull wit (Jewel).
John Clossen was a real logy,
Heavy, bungling, dull old fogy,
Yet he had his startlin' flashes,
Now and then like flames from ashes,

Loge (old cant), a watch; from

the French horloge.

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And it made the people stare
To think that embers still were there.

-Sunday Courier.

Loll (American), a favourite child,

the mother's darling.

Loller (American), usually ap

plied to a lively, sportive damsel,
or “bit of muslin.”

Oh, if she is a loller,
I would like to be her loll !
And if she is a scholar,
Let me turn into a schol!
Or whate'er she scholarises
Or whate'er she tries to do,
Or what kind of game arises,
So she'd only put me through!

-A Song: Poor Jones. Lolly (pugilistic), the head. Lone ducks, lone doves, quiet

mice. Women who hire their apartments, where they receive gentlemen visitors, or who go with them to houses of assignation. A woman without a souteneur, one who tries as much as possible to evade observation,

Long feathers (army), straw.

In French argot plume de Beauce. La Beauce, formerly a province, is renowned for its

wheat, and consequently straw. Long firm (common), an associa

tion of swindlers who pretend to be a solvent firm of traders. It is called bande noire by the French.

The Austrian Consul-General in London having informed the Vienna Chamber of Commerce that Austrian merchants have repeatedly incurred heavy loss by giving credit to long firms in England, the Chamber has issued a notice warning traders of the risk of opening accounts with foreign customers, without first obtaining satisfactory information respecting their position.—Standard.

The police reports give us occasional glimpses of what are called long firms, but glimpses which are for the most part deceptive. They show us small bands of disreputable people taking premises in busy quarters, starting sham businesses, and obtaining goods from manufacturers for which they never intend to pay, and which they dispose of as quickly as possible at any price they will fetch. The reports go on to show us how this kind of thing lasts until one or other of the victimised manufacturers sets the police upon the track of the swindlers, who are invariably hunted up and arrested, when the business collapses... Thor Fredur: Shady Places,

and

pearance. This class of women has increased incredibly within a very few years in London, as

in all the larger American cities. Long (University), explained by

quotation. “ Last Long ?” “Hem ! last protracted vacation.”—Charles Reade: Hard Cash. Long bow. Vide DRAW. Long ear (American University),

a sober, religiously - minded student. The reverse is called

a short ear. Long-faced one (army), a horse.

Long-ghost (common), a tall,

thin person. Long-haired chum (tailors), a

young woman, a young lady friend.

Long-knife (American), a white man, so called from the swords which the first settlers wore. The term came from the Algonkin Indians. In Chippeway to this day the term for a white man is chee-mokomon, i.e., great or long-knife. The writer once knew a very refined and beauti. ful young lady, a Miss Foster, of Philadelphia, and also an old Indian whose name meant “He who changes his position while sitting,” but who was termed Martin “ for short.” Martin usually smoked a very handsome poaugun, or pipe mounted with silver, but one day he appeared with a miserable affair, made of freestone, not worth a sixpence. On the writer's asking him what he had done with the fine calumet, he replied, “I sold it yesterday to the chee-mokomon ikweh,”-tothelong-knifewoman. The “long-knife woman” referred to was Miss Foster.

Long-knife-Loo.

at the moment, and against which the bookmakers therefore give a larger rate of odds. It is in fact a form of speculating for the rise.

Button Park and Bonnie Lassie, at 33 to I each, seem fairly well backed; but the outsiders that smack of business amongst the long-shot division are Ten Broeck and Althorp.--Bird o Freedom. How oft at morn we've laughed to scorn

A long shot's chance to win;
How oft at eve we've had to grieve

O'er our departed tin.
We've had the tip, and let it slip,

What's done we can't retract,
And we have to pay on the settling day,
O'er the winner we might have backed.

- Sporting Times.

Long-oats (army), fork or handle

of a broom used to belabour a

horse with. Long paper (Winchester College),

paper for writing tasks on. Longs (Fenian), rifles.

Longs and “shorts” for rifles and revolvers were familiar enough names to those who followed the Fenian trials a score of years ago.-St. James's Gazette. Longs and shorts (gambling

cheats), cards contrived for

cheating. Long-shore butcher (nautical),

a coastguardsman. Long shots (turf), to take the

long shots is to back a horse which is not in popular favour

Long-tailed one (thieves), a bank

note for a large amount. Long tails (sporting), pheasants,

greyhounds. Long ton (miners), twenty

one hundredweight. In the coal trade they usually reckon

twenty-one tons as twenty. Long trot (popular), explained by

quotation. We was 'bliged to shoot the load afore we could begin ag'in. Sometimes we had to do the long trot (go home) with it, and so sp'iled a whole arternoon. -Greenwood : Seven Curses of London. Lonsdale's nine-pins (political),

the nine boroughs for which Lord Lonsdale used to send up members to St. Stephen's. A repartee connected with them is attributed to Burke.

Loo (common), for the good of

the loo, for the benefit of the company or the community.

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Looking on (turf), one of the

many terms which imply that a horse is not intended to do

his best in a race. Look nine ways for Sundays, to

(nautical), to squint.

Loocher (Anglo-Indian), a low

and especially a lascivious blackguard. Hind. luchcha, a lecher; the being one, luchchi pana. In English gypsy luchipen or lut

chipen, lustfulness. Loo'd, looed (English and Ameri

can), beaten or defeated. “A term borrowed from the game called '100'" (Bartlett). In a list of imaginary last words attributed to notorious Southern characters, Bella Boyd, a celebrated fast woman and female spy, was represented as saying, “ I'm looed.” In provincial

English, looed means supplanted. Looking-glass, ancient slang for

a chamber utensil, derived from the usual examination made by medical men, for diagnosing the probable ailments of their patients. In Ireland the necessary article is often, if not com. monly, called a “Twiss,” because the portrait of that once noted politician appeared as an ornament at the bottom, produced for ready sale by a satirical and patriotic earthenware manufacturer in Coleraine to perpetuate the name and fame of Mr. Twiss, for having slandered the women of Ireland by a baseless accusation of unchastity. The accusation was denied, but the penalty remained, by the operation of the principle sarcastically recommended by Douglas Jerrold in all cases of doubt: if you do not know the rights of a thing, believe the worst.

Look-see pidgin (pidgin), mere

sham, hypocrisy. “This is all look-see pidgin” (Anglo-Chinese newspaper), religious humbug. My tink he cat he makee chin-chin Fo, My tinkee puss-cat be Joss-pidgin-man Who no can chow-chow meat-hai-yah !

ph'hoy! Dat cat hab cheatee, cheatee, cheatee

my; My tink he 'hood-he all too bad-mas.

kee! He Joss-pidgin be all look-see pidgin, My wish dat cat be dam—wit' evely-ting: For àllo worl' be bad, an' all be bad, An' evely side hab pizen-cats an' tlaps, My no can do make tlust one man no more.

-The Cat. Loon - flat (old cant), thirteen

pence halfpenny. Loose-box, a term sometimes

applied to a brougham.

Loose ends (common). When a

business is neglected, or its finances are in a precarious condition, it is said to be at

loose ends. Loose, on the (common), out

carousing At the same fair, Jem Moor was about three-quarters and an eighth towards being tight through having been out on the loose all the morning with the governor.Hindley: Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

Also getting a living by prostitution.

Looter_Lose.

29

Looter (gypsy), to steal from.

Anglo - Indian loot, plunder,
booty. Hind. lūt, from Sans-
krit lotra, root; lūp, rob, plun-
der. Lüter and lour are English
gypsy terms for the same word,

and are also used as verbs.
Lop, horse (army), puddings of

suet without plums.
Loppers, lobbes, loppus (Ameri-

can). The writer has never seen
this word in print, but he has
often heard it in Pennsylvania.
An awkward, shambling fellow,
a hobble-de-hoy. Dutch lobbes,
a clownish fellow, also a shaggy
dog. This is nearly allied to the

English lob, a lubber or clown. Lord (popular), a hump-backed

man.

That a deformed person is a lord ... after a painful investigation of the rolls and records under the reign of Richard the Third, or “Richard Crouchback," as he is more usually designated in the chronicles . . . we do not find that that monarch conferred any such lordships as here pretended, upon any subject or subjects, on a simple plea of conformity in that respect to the “royal nature."-C. Lamb: Essays of Elia.

She invariably wound up at night with a mad fighting fit, during which my lord, vulgar slang for hunchback, was always thrashed unmercifully,--Standard.

Probably thus called in ridi. cule from the self-importance and air of complacency supposed to be generally assumed by hunchbacks. Wright suggests the Greek lordós, bent forwards, and Smythe A. Palmer the old English loord, lordain, lurden, or lourden, heavy, clumsy,

sluggard. French lourdard, old French Lorde, Low Latin

lurdus. Lord Mayor (burglars), a large

crowbar or jemmy, used for breaking open safes. Numerous are the names given to crowbars. There is "the Lord Mayor," "the Alderman,” “the Common Councilman,” and so on. These are principally used for breaking into safes.—Tit Bits. Lords (Winchester College), the

first eleven are thus called. Lose the combination, to (Ame

rican), to miss the meaning or point of anything. One often hears such an expression in conversation as “Hold on there. I've missed the combination.” “Did you see the butchers' parade ?" asked the snake-editor of a casual caller yesterday afternoon.

“Yes."

“See that man throwing sausages at the crowd?”

“Yes." ."Well, I never sausage a thing before."

“Ha! ha! Pretty good. I'll surprise my wife with that when I get home."

When the casual caller arrived at home he said to his wife :

“My dear, in the butchers' parade today there was a man throwing sausages to the spectators.”

“Was there?”

“Yes; and I never saw anything like that done before."

“Neither did I.”

He waited five minutes for his wife to laugh, and then went out to wonder how he lost the combination.—Pittsburg Chronicle.

The "snake-editor” mentioned in this anecdote is supposed to be the writer specially employed on a newspaper, to invent or discover wonderful

Lost-Low-down.

“yarns" of snakes, mosquitoes, enormous pumpkins, extraordinary instances of instinct in animals, and similar marvels. He is “the big gooseberry man"

of the English provincial press. Lost and gone poetry (Ameri

can). The wailing, feeble-minded rhyming over “lost Edens and buried Lenores," imaginary griefs and sham sorrows, so characteristic of all beginners in poetry, has not escaped the notice of American newspaper wits, who often turn it into

ridicule. Lotion (popular), a drink.

“What's your lotion ? " what are you drinking ? Loud (common), flashy, “pro

nounced," extravagant, whether in manners or colours, dress or demeanour. Originally English, it has been very much extended in America.

A much more loquacious, ostentatious, much louder style. — Carlyle : Life of Sterling.

Husband—“Now, Mrs. B.'s dress, I suppose, is what you would call a symphony?"

Wife—“Yes, a Wagnerian symphony." Husband-“Why Wagnerian?” Wife—“Because it's so loud.”—Detroit Free Press. Lounce (sailor's), a drink. Gene

rally a pint of beer, probably a

corruption of allowance. Lounge (university and public

schools), a term of Etonian origin. It means a treat. In the West of England a lounge is a large lump of bread.

Lour, loure (old cant), money.

From the gypsy.
To strowling ken the mort bings then
To fetch loure for her cheats.

– The English Rogue. Louver, lovva, lovo, lovvy, lover

(gypsy), money, i.e., specie, or

coin. Vide LOUR. Lovage (popular), tap droppings.

Properly a plant which possesses

diuretic properties. Love (common), in scoring of any

game equals nought, or nothing.

I have seen those lose the game that have had so many for love. — Bailey's Erasmus.

I sometimes play a game at piquet for love.-C. Lamb: Essays of Elia.

Love is here the antithesis of money. “To play for love (of the game) and not for money." French, "pour l'amour de l'art,"

“gratis pro Deo.” Love apples, explained by quota

tion.

Love apples, the latest name which the dynamiters have given to their bombs, affords another illustration of the love of conspirators for euphemistic terms. --St. James's Gazette.

Tomatoes were generally called love apples in Australia about sixty years ago. In France pommes d'amour. It may be remarked, en passant, that the terms love apples and pommes d'amour are mistranslations of Italian pomi del mori or Moors'

apples, mala Æthiopica. Low-down (common), out of

sorts, out of money, and out of luck; also mean, underhand.

Lowie-Lumberer.

That's just the way; a person does a
low-down thing, and then he don't want
to take no consequences of it.—The Ad.
ventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Lowie (Scotch thieves), money;

a form of lour, or the common
gypsy lowy or lovvy.
A good deal of talk afterwards took
place about the lowie, which he believed
signified money.-Scottish Newspaper.
Low in the lay (thieves), in want

of money, “hard up."
Fighting Attie, my hero, I saw you to-day

A purse full of yellow boys seize;
And as, just at present, I'm low in the lay,
I'll borrow a "quid,” if you please.

-Lytton: Paul Clifford. Low-pad (old cant), a footpad. Low-water-mark, at (common),

without funds.

I'm at low-water-mark, myself, only one bob and a magpie.—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

Lumberer (turf), a swindling

tipster, who works his business vivå voce instead of by advertisement. His happy huntinggrounds are the bars of fashionable restaurants, though he may be also encountered on racecourses. His method is either to be introduced by a confederate, or to force acquaintance with raw youths (vide JUGGINS), and by pretending to intimacy with jockeys and familiarity with owners of horses to persuade his victim that he is willing, from sheer good-fellowship, to part with valuable information; and, provided a commission is entrusted to him, to insure success on some impending race. The name of the horse is given or withheld as may suit the circumstances of the case, but once he has secured the money or credit of the “juggins” the result is the same. Should the horse win (a most unlikely contingency), there are twenty excellent reasons why the stake has not been invested; if beaten, as he usually is, the lumberer urges some impossible combination of rascality on the part of owner or jockey as an excuse for present defeat and in proof of future infallibility. (Common), a man who goes about public-houses sponging on acquaintances. From to lumber, to loiter, stroll lazily.

Lucky (popular), to make or cut

one's lucky, to escape, run away.

That was all out of consideration for Fagin, 'cause the traps know that we work together, and he might have got into trouble if we hadn't made our lucky.— Dickens : Oliver Twist.

Lug chovey (popular), a pawn

broker's shop. Lug, in (popular), in pawn.

Scotch lagd, laid by, put away Lullaby cheat (old cant), a child. Lüller (gypsy), to vanish, dis

appear. Lully (thieves), linen, a shirt; lully

prigger, a thief who steals linen

off hedges or lines. Lumber (old cant), a room.

So I pulled out my flask, and my two lumberers drained it, and, with a “ Lord luv us, Bill, I feels er nu'un,” and with

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the other saying, “Them's my senti-
ments," began chaffing me—“Are yer
agoing to have another game er nap?"-
Bird • Freedom.
Lummox (American), a fat, un-

wieldy, stupid person. From
provincial English lummock, a

lump Lummy (popular), first-rate,

clever, jolly.

To think of Jack Dawkins-Lummy Jack-the Dodger-the Artful Dodger going abroad for a common twopenny halfpenny sneeze-box.—Dickens : Oliver Twist. Lump (popular), a party, associa

tion; to go in the lump, means

to go to the parish workhouse. Lump hotel (popular), the work

house. Termed also the “pan.” Lump on the thick un’s, to (turf),

to make a heavy bet in sove

reigns. Lump, to (popular), used in the

phrase “if you don't like it you may lump it," i.e., get rid of it by swallowing it. “M. Oliphant regards the word as a corruption of old English lomp, AngloSaxon gelamp, it happened ; and so to lump would be to take what may chance'" (A. Smythe Palmer). (Thieves), to lump the lighter, to be transported. In this case to lump signifies to load. (Turf), to put weight on. Not content with lumping him in the handicap.--Bird o' Freedom. Lumpy (booksellers), costly ;

lumpy books, costly books. (Popular), intoxicated, pregnant.

(Cricket), applied to rough
ground.

The wicket was unsatisfactory, and the
batsmen complained that it was lumpy.-
Evening News.
Lunan. Hotten declares that

this is gypsy for a girl. It is common in canting, but the writer has never been able to determine that it is Romany. Probably from the Swedish or

Danish luns, a slatternly girl. Lung-box (popular), mouth.

My tar, if you don't close your lung-boite I shall run you in. — Brighton Beach Loafer. Lunka (Anglo-Indian), a strong

cheroot from the Bengal Presidency, so called from being made from tobacco grown in the islands, the local term for which is lanka of the Godavery Delta (Anglo-Indian Glossary). They are becoming known in

London. Lunkhead (American), a horse of

inferior breed and appearance.

Our new Minister to France is studying the art of politeness and elegance of diction prior to his advent into Parisian society. He calls our worthy Secretary of State (Mr. Fish) a “fossilised lunkhead.” The term lunkhead is usually applied by sporting men to a very sorry style of horse, but never, we believe, to a horse mackerel.New York Herald.

From the Swedish lunk, a very slow, heavy horse. Lunk-headed (American), idiotic

senseless. We shall go armed, and the lunk. headed, overgrown calf had better keep out of our sight if he values his miserable, worthless life.-Estelline (Dakota) Bell.

Luny—Lush.

33

Luny (popular), a lunatic. “Go

along, you luny,” is a common phrase. Combining business with pleasure, he chartered a horse and trap, and drove the luny to the asylum, intending to wind up with a pleasant drive on his own account. On the road, however, the luny saw in the master's pocket the order for admission to the asylum, and he quietly abstracted it. When they arrived he got down from the trap, and told the officials that he had brought them an inmate, a very quiet man, whose only madness was an idea that he was the master of a suburban workhouse.

The master vehemently protested that the other man was the lunatic, and that he himself was really the master of the workhouse. "I told you so." said the lunatic pityingly; “but this will settle the matter; here is the order for his admission." The unlucky master was violently removed, and the lunatic got up in the trap, and drove away.-Ross: Variety Paper. Lur, loure (gypsy), to rob; booty,

plunder. This word passed into

canting at a very early period.
Your'e out ben morts and toure !
Look out ben morts and toure!
For all the Rome coves are budged a beake,
And the quire (queer) coves tippe the loure.

-S. Rowlands, 1610. That “ Rome coves” means gypsies here, as well as “good men,” is apparent enough. Stealing linen from hedges, &c., has always been regarded as a speciality of the Romany.

Loure is still commonly used among gypsies. “Do you pen mandy'd loure tute?”_"Do you think I'd rob you?”

Then says Pudding-faced Ned, with a grin

on his phiz, “It's no one but horses and asses that

work;
Now Larry's got his fancy, Jerry's got his,
And so I've got mine, and it's cadging's
my lurk.”
-J. Greenwood: A Night in a

Workhouse.
Formerly lurch.
The tapster having many of these lurches
fell to decay.-Peels Jests.

(Tinker), eye. This word, in the sense of looking about, observing where work may be got, or anything stolen, &c., possibly suggested the old canting word lurk, which was used for every kind of “lay,” trick, swindle, or “game.” To keenly observe forms the first part of the education of a young thief, and to this his eyesight was regularly trained by observing mingled objects thrown up together, &c.

-an exercise which might be with great advantage applied in all schools to develop quick

ness of perception.
Lurker (tramps and others), an

impostor who goes about with

a false begging petition. Lurries (thieves), money or jewel

lery. From the gypsy loure,

plunder.
Lurry (old cant), valuables.

Vide LUR.
The fifth was a glazier, who, when he

creeps in,
To pinch all the lurry he thinks it no sin.
-From A Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and

Songs, collected by W. H. Logan.
Lush (Eton), dainty. Shakespeare

uses lush with the meaning of

Lurk (tramps and others), a

swindle ; specially applied to obtaining money by a false begging petition. An occupation. VOL. II.

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now.

luxury. It is a provincial term for rich, succulent. (Common), drink ; more especially drink to excess. Applied equally to beer,

wine, or spirits. I boast not such lush, but whoever his

glass Does not like, I'll be hanged if I press him.

-Lytton: Paul Clifford. Though it once was our game when the

chucking time came, 'Tis a fact that I freely allow, When in search of a lush to the “Spoofs'

we would rush, But the sharps do the "rushing" just

-Sporting Times. Suggested to be from lush, full of juice, traced by Wright to luscious, lushious, luxurious. Drink seems, in most languages, to be synonymous with "juice.” Thus in Scotland whisky is called the “barley bree,” or juice of the barley. The French have “jus de la treille" for wine, and the slang term “jus d'échalas." French sailors call rum of the best quality “jus de botte premier brin.” But more probably from the gypsy lush or losher,

to drink; or German löschen. Lush-crib (popular and thieves),

a public-house or tavern.

famous for being a favourite haunt of Edmund Kean. Here that ill-starred genius and his parasites were wont to turn night into day, in making their followers free of “the City of Lushington.” Other times, other manners. Lush, to (common), to drink, or

drink to excess. Vide LUSH. ... piece of double Glo'ster; and to wind up all, some of the richest sort you ever lushed.—Dickens : Oliver Twist. Lushyor lushey (popular), in

toxicated.

It was half-past four when I got to Somerstown, and then I was so uncommon lushey that I couldn't find the place where the latch-key went in.—Dickens: Pickwick Papers. Lyesken chirps (tinker), telling a

fortune. Lying in (Royal Military

Academy), is said of a cadet
who stops at the Royal Military
Academy, in his room, on a
Sunday when he is supposed to

have left on leave. Lylo (Anglo - Chinese), come

hither (Hotten). Lypken, a word used by tramps

in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and probably at an earlier period, for a house where vagrants and thieves could procure a night's lodging. From the Gaelic leaba, a bed ; and cean (ken), a house.

Lushington (popular), a low,

drunken fellow, a sot. Up to recent date, there was, or may be now, a tap-room in a certain hostelry, in the immediate vicinity of Drury Lane Theatre,

Mab—Macing.

M

MAB (American), a harlot. Pos

sibly from the canting Mab, “a hackney coach,” which is common to all who will pay for a passage in it. So the French call a fille de joie an omnibus. In the north of England a mab is a

loose, slatternly girl. Mabbed up (old cant), dressed

carelessly, as a slattern. Macaroni (thieves), pony (Du.

cange Anglicus). Formerly a swell, fop. "The Italians are extremely fond of a dish they call macaroni, ... and as they consider this as the summum bonum of all good eating, so they figuratively call everything they think elegant and uncommon macaroni. Our young travellers, who generally catch the follies of 'the countries they visit, judged that the title of macaroni was very applicable to a clever fellow; and accordingly to distinguish themselves as such, they instituted a club under this denomination, the members of which were supposed to be the standard of taste. The infection at St. James's was soon caught in the city, and we have now macaronies of every denomination"

(Pocket-book, 1773). Mace (thieves), to give it on the mace, or strike the mace, to obtain goods on credit without

any intention of paying for them; to sponge an acquaintance, beg or borrow money. Formerly mace grieffs were men who wittingly bought and sold stolen fish. Several Yiddish words may have contributed to this term, such as masser or meser, a betrayer, hence “massestapler,” which see; més-chomet, a blackguard. Also moser or möser, a cheat; mös, money, hence to make money. Man at the mace, explained by quotation.

The following people used to go in there : toy-getters (watch-stealers), magsmen (confidence-trick men), men at the mace (sham loan offices), &c.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

To mace, to cheat, swindle in any way.

Maceman, macer (thieves), a

man who conducts a sham loan office, a welsher, swindler. Vide MACE.

Machin (pidgin), a merchant.

“Allo dot go doun blongy one numpa-one machin, he catchee

too much dolla'.” Macing the rattler (thieves), tra

velling in a railway train without paying one's fare. Vide MACE.

A rough shock head was obtruded from under the seat, and a gruff voice cried :

"J'yer, guv'nor, does your dog bite ?" “Great heaven!" gasped the little man,

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poona, half a sovereign, &c. Also medza, in low theatrical slang ; medza beargered, half drunk.

Mafoo (pidgin), horse-boy, groom.

“Talkee mafoo to come chopchop." (Mandarin), mah, a horse; mah-tung, a stirrup.

"what in the name of all that's holy are you doing under there?”

“Same as your dog. Macing the — rattler."-Sporting Times. Mackarel, mackawl (old cant), a

bawd. French maquereau, ma

querelle. Madam (thieves), a pocket-hand

kerchief.

One day I went to Lewisham and touched for a lot of wedge. I tore up my madam (handkerchief), and tied the wedge in small packets and put them into my pockets.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(Old cant), Madam Van, a prostitute. Made (Winchester). A prefect is

said to be made when he has received full power from the head-master. Made beer (Winchester), a be

verage compounded of college small-beer, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, and rice, so as to give it

some sort of a “head.” Made his Jack (American), got

what he aimed at, attained his point, got into office, or became somebody of consequence. Old English, “ Jock with the bush." “This phrase,” says Wright, " occurs in Barclay's · Eclogues,' 1570, and seems to mean a Jack-in-office.” Dutch, een groot Hans, a great Jack or person, “a swashing blade;" Ger

man, prablhans, a "swell.” Madza (thieves and costermongers), half; from the Italian mezza, used as in madza saltee, a halfpenny ; madza

Mag (thieves and popular), a

halfpenny; in ancient cant a

“make.” You has not a heart for the general dis

tressYou cares not a mag if our party should

fall, And if Scarlet Jem were not good at a

press, By Goles, it would soon be all up with us all!

-Lytton : Paul Clifford. If he don't keep such a business as the present as close as possible, it can't be worth a mag to him.-Dickens: Bleak House.

In society, “not a mag” is equivalent to "not a sou.” And the staff, going and downing it on Indian Ocean and Atlantic, are still broke to a man and a mag.--Sporting Times.

(Literary and printers), a magazine. And now of Hawkesbury they talked, Who wrote in mags for hire.

–Wolcot (P. Pindar). Maggots (popular), whims,

fancies. Hence “maggotty,” fanciful, fidgety. It was once a popular belief that small maggots were generated in the human brain, so that the fretting of these insects produced odd fancies and foolish notions. Hence probably the origin which may perhaps also be traced to

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the fact that crazy sheep have a worm in the brain.

Probably from the Yiddish machas or mugas (to which mann may be arbitrarily added), meaning a great swell, a great man or highly honoured lord; or from to mag, to talk persuasively. It is curious to note that meg, in French cant, which Victor Hugo derives from magnus, means master, head of a gang (more probably from Italian cant, maggio, lord). It may be these words have a common origin, or this is mere coincidence. Compare old cant dabe, head of a gang, and French dab, same meaning; the latter probably from dam, low Latin for lord.

Magistrands. Vide BEJANT. Magistrate (Scotch slang), a

herring. Magpie (popular and thieves),

sixpence. I'm at low-water-mark myself-only one bob and a magpie. - Dickens: Oliver Twist.

Also the black and white circles in a target. Magsman (common slang), the

magsman is at the very head of the profession of roguery. He is the great man, the Magnus Apollo among thieves and swindlers, or what the French call de la haute pègre. He is a first-class confidence man who selects his victims in the street, in the smoking-rooms of hotels, in stylish bars.

“Magsmen are wonderful actors. Their work is done in broad daylight, without any stage-accessories, and often a look, a wink, a slip of the tongue, would betray their confederacy. They are very often men of superior education. Those who work the tidal trains and boats are often faultlessly dressed and highly accomplished” (Hotten). He has not the slightest sympathy with evil-doers, and fifty guineas would not tempt him to permit on his premises the hilarious celebration of bold Toby Crackitt's release over a bowl of punch, by a select circle of admiring magsmen. Greenwood: In Strange Company.

Mag, to (thieves), to talk, to

talk persuasively; a provincialism meaning to chatter. In the quotation may signifies talk. Probably from “magpie. Oh! if you have any mag in you we'll draw it out.–Madame D'Arblay: Diary. Mahmy (up-country Australian),

the white commander of a troop of native police.

The troopers were, of course, delighted at the prospect of a collision with their countrymen, and an unusual degree of activity prevailed in the camp, so much so that next morning before sunrise, while Stone and his guest were getting through their hasty breakfast, the corporal of the troop made his appearance at the door, and stiffening himself into an erect military attitude saluted gravely, reporting at the same time, “Every sing all righ, mahmy." -A. C. Grant.

Mahogany (society), table; to

have one's feet under another man's mahogany, to sit at his

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on the main chance, seeking to make money. It generally implies unscrupulousness and cleverness. The English doctors can earn their living in their own country. They haven't gone to Germany on the make.---Referee.

While the word is unquestionably derived from the English make, as “to make money," it is worth pointing out its resemblance to the Yiddish makir, one who knows, who is intelligent in anything. No. thing is more remarkable in slang than the manner in which words mutually form and help one another into currency. It is said also of one who asks too high a price for his goods. “On the make” is of American origin; a make is a successful swindle.

Maiden (turf), a horse which has

never won a race open to the public. Therefore the winning of one or more matches does not disqualify a horse from being entered as a maiden for

subsequent events. Maidstone jailer (rhyming slang),

a tailor. Mails (Stock Exchange), Mexican

Railway ordinary stock. Mailyas, maillhas (tinker), fin

gers. Gaelic, meirlach, stealers, as "pickers and stealers,” hands. Possibly the real origin of

"maulies,"influenced by“maul.” Mai-pan (pidgin, Cantonese), com

pradore, steward. Maistry, mixtry, sometimes mys

tery (Anglo-Indian), properly a foreman, a master-workman, but used for any artisan, as rajmistri, a mason or bricklayer, lohar-mistri, a blacksmith. From the Portuguese mestre, a skilled or master-workman.

Make a bolt of it, to (common),

to run away.

And he has been suspected, detected, has made a bolt of it, and has been discovered and brought to justice. — The Graphic.

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Make a kick, to (common), to

raise an objection. French regimber, said of a horse that backs and kicks, and figuratively of an unwilling person. .

Make a small war, to (American),

to amass a small fortune. In reference to a man who had amassed a fortune during the civil war, and of whom it was said that he would like to make a small war of his own simply to “finance' it.

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Make (old cant), a penny or half

penny. (General), to be “on the make,” to be always intent

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Many scores of these philanthropists who have spent their lives in looking for men to enrich whilst anxious only to make a small war for themselves, have I encountered.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moc. casin.

Making clocks was too risky, and guying warn't no catch after I fell in the river at 'Ampton, with a countryman as could swim like a bloomin' duck a throttlin' me. -Sporting Times.

(Freemasons), to initiate.

Make tracks, to (American), to

decamp, to run away ; in allusion to one who leaves traces behind him, without intending to do so. He was one of those unpleasant people who keep firearms on the premises, and handy for use. We made tracks, as you may suppose, and quickly too. The other two got clear off. As for myself, a snap-shot caught me in the calf of the leg as I tumbled anyhow over the garden wall, and thus put an end to my “crib-cracking" for one while.-Thor Fredur: Sketches in Shady Places.

Makee (pidgin), to make, do,

cause, effect. “Supposy you makee buy-lo!” It is in pidgin generally prefixed to verbs to make them active, e.g., "I makee

stlike dat too-muchee bad boy.” Make hay (vide HAY), to put in

disorder, to mix in utter con-
fusion. The expression explains
itself.

Some of the warders, full of the irrepres. sible spirits of Old Erin (we do not mean whisky) had made hay with the drugs in the infirmary, with the result that liniments were taken as medicines, blisters applied in lieu of linseed plasters, and in one instance laudanum administered instead of black draught.-Funny Folks.

Hay-bag is an old word for a noise, riot, mess. Make no bones, to (popular), to

make no bones about doing anything, is to do it without demur or difficulty. Of very ancient origin, Erasmus in his Paraphrase (1548) using it—"He made no manier bones ne stickyng but went in hande to offre vp his onely sone Isaac in sacrifice” (Luke, f. 15). Its derivation is obscure unless it be an allusion to the habit of some people, in eating fish and small

birds, to eat bones and all. Make, to (popular and thieves).

to appropriate to one's personal use ; to make clocks, to steal watches.

Make- up (theatrical), materials

used for making up the face, hands, &c. Soap and water, cold cream, pomatum, or vaseline, pearl powder, Indian ink, rouge, vermilion, blanc de perle, rose water, crêpé hair, spirit gum, wigs, and grease paint of every description. The latter, though a recent discovery in Europe, has been known and used in China for ages. The use of it was first introduced here by the distinguished actor, Hermann Vezin, who, before it became an article of commerce, manufactured it for his own use.

A little girl at the back of the dress circle cried :

“See, ma, he's been kissing the maid, and her make-up's come off on his face !" -Bird o Freedom.

This term also refers to the personal appearance assumed by

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an actor impersonating a char. acter. Mr. - took the part of the aged diplomatist, Sir Henry Craven. His make-up was admirable, and his acting worthy of all praise.-Sporting Times.

It has the general sense of appearance produced by dress, habits, &c.

Perhaps he owed this freedom from the sort of professional make-up which pene. trates skin, tones, and gestures. — G. Eliot: Daniel Deronda.

Making a pitch (street performers,

cheap Jacks, circus, &c.), selecting a locality for a performance of any kind, stopping at any place to perform.

Five times did we make a pitch in the wind and the deadly-cold sleet, playing over three times.-Greenwood: In Strange Company. Making a song (thieves), ex

plained by quotation.

Only a purse, with four shillings and a railway ticket in it. What makes me remember the ticket? Why, when I got home I was still staying at the lodging. house in George Street-a pal told me of a lark he had seen at the market; some poor chap had lost all his money and his return railway ticket, and was making a song (telling everybody) about it.-J. Greenwood: Gaol Birds at Large.

Malleko (gypsy), a sneaking spy,

an informer, a mischief-maker. This is old gypsy, and it recalls the “miching Mallecho"

of Shakspeare. Malley (Anglo-Indian), a gar

dener. Malt (popular), beer.

When the purchase-money was paid over, the farmer invited the dealer, as is the custom, to have a glass of malt before parting, and they entered a neighbouring public-house.-Tit-Bits. Malt, to (popular), to drink beer. Malum (Anglo-Indian), a sailingmaster.

“In a ship with English officers and a native crew, the mate is called malum sahib. The word is, in Arabic, mu'allim, literally the instructor,' and is properly applied to the pilot or sailing-master" (Anglo-Indian

Glossary). Mammy (West Indian), an elderly

negress; generally an old nurse. Sometimes corrupted into Maumer.

Making up the log (tailors),

putting down the wages. In the stock trade it is taking the number of garments cut, and in some cases where they pay “day work,” if the quantity does not come up to the specified number of garments, the deficiency is deducted per ratio from the men's wages.

Manablins (popular), broken vic

tuals (Hotten). Man a-hanging (common), a man

in difficulties (Hotten). Man at the duff. Vide DUFF. Manchester silk (tailors), thread. Manders (thieves), “remands."

One promising little lad of about twelve, and who really had some claim to being regarded as an “old offender," overdid it by endeavouring, in the enumeration of his numerous convictions, to palm off a

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couple of manders . . . as genuine ma-
gisterial sentences to imprisonment.-J.
Greenwood: Dick Temple.
Man-handle, to (thieves), to use

a person roughly, as to take
him prisoner, to turn him out
of a room, or give him a
beating (Hotten). Properly,
to man - handle is a nautical
term, meaning to move by
force of men, without levers or
tackles.

Man-man (pidgin - English),

slowly, gradually, little by

little. Italian mano mano. Man-man one peach-tlee flowery become

one piecy peach, Man-man one littee chilo get wise an' all

men teach, You catchee one piece can-do; some day

it make you gleat,
Ahong hab larn this lesson—to fightee,
shave an' wait.
- The Ballad of Ahong and the

Mosquito.
Man of the world (thieves), pro-

fessional thief.
Man of the world. . . . He so loves to
style himself, not from any resemblance
to the similarly designated personage of
polite society, but from the fact of his
accomplishments being such that he can
follow his profession anywhere. -Michael
Davitt; Leaves from a Prison Diary.

Manual subscription (American),

a blow with the fist. In Eng. land "a sign manual.” Want me to subscribe to a Life of Grant, do ye? I'll grant ye yer life ef ye clar out from hyar 'n less ’n a minit, ye scum! General Grant's soldiers stole all my hens, an' shot my second cousin's brother's arm off, and now ye want me to subscribe for his life! I'll give ye a manual subscription in the face with my knuckles, ye hellion of a Yankee book-pedlar !—Trials of a Book Agent. Man with no frills (American), a

plain person, a man without culture or refinement. An amiable term to express a vulgar fellow. The Nevada Transcript describes a blackguard who, because he was worth a million, insisted on being allowed to sit at a table d'hôte in his shirt-sleeves, as a miner millionaire with no frills. Map (printers), a dirty proof,

heavily marked all over by the reader in consequence of blunders and errors in composinglikened to a geographical draw

ing with many references. Marble (American), also marvel.

To bound, bounce, or run along. From a boy's marble thrown along a sidewalk, which, if properly propelled, will proceed to an incredible distance. Marbles are also vulgarly called marvels in Philadelphia, as in Suffolk

shire.
Marbles (common), furniture,

movables.
I can't git the 'ang of his lingo; his pat-

ter's all picter somehow,
And wot he quite means by Calf, mate, I

dunno no more than a cow.

Man-trap (common), patches

of cow dung in the fields. Also a widow. This old term, still used habitually among American thieves, recalls the bright boy in the New York school who, on being asked the meaning and derivation of the word “virgin,” replied, “vir, a man; gin, a trap; virgin, a mantrap.”

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But the Scapegoat, that's him, I suppose, . and he looks it; it's rough, as he says; No marbles, no lodging, no grub, and that

sort o'thing for days! -Punch. Margery prater (thieves and

gypsies), a hen, from its constant clucking. So called by association with margery-howlet, an old word for an owl, and margery daw, jack-daw; margot, in French, is a nickname for a magpie. Maria, for Black Maria, which

see. Although I had no motive for evading her, 'Twas but lately that I came across her

track, And two stern-faced men were forcibly

persuading her To enter a conveyance, painted black. Aghast at conduct seemingly so cruel, base,

And wicked, I its meaning did inquireQuoth a gamin, “She's been lifting some

cove's jewel case, And she's going for a ride in the Maria."

-Sporting Times. Marinated (old cant), transported. Marine (nautical), an empty

bottle. Mark (pugilistic), the pit of the

stomach. Gretting (1724-34) had the nearest way of going to the stomach (which is what they call the mark) of any man I knew.Captain Godfray: Useful Art of Self. Defence.

(Swindlers), one marked by thieves or swindlers as easy to

dupe or rob. “ Buy a watch-ticket, John ?" cry one

did“ Will you bid ?—take a quid;" “ In for eight guineas !” “Oh, nay, you

don't kid This young man,” said I, “from the

North !”

Whispered to me a mock-auction shark-
Thought me a mark—"keep it dark."

-). A. Hardwick: Up from the

Country. (Popular), “to come to the, or be up to the mark,” to be satisfactory. When one is dissatisfied and says that a thing is not up to the mark, does not come up to the mark, one is still using the metaphor of a measure not filled up to the

rim or proper mark. Marked up (tailors), to have one

marked up, is to know all about

him. Marketeer (turf), a betting-man

who devotes himself, by means of special information, to the study of favourites, and the diseases incident to that con

dition of equine life (Hotten). Market - horse (turf), a horse

simply kept in the betting-lists for the purpose of being betted against (Hotten). The "market” is the Turf Exchange, which is held at Tattersall's, in the betting clubs on the racecourse, or at any great centre where ring

men congregate. Marking (thieves), watching or

picking out a victim. Marmalade, true (common), ex

cellent. Also “real jam.” Marm puss (tailor), the master's

wife, or the wife of any other man. Marooning (nautical), explained

by quotation.

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In the good old times when punishments were heroic, when floggings were everyday occurrences and keelhaulings frequent, marooning was a well-known term. It consisted of putting a refractory seaman ashore on a desert island and leaving him there to wait for the next ship, which very often never arrived.-Globe.

Admiral Smyth says maroon-
ing was a custom among former
pirates, of putting an offender
on shore on some desolate cape
or island, with a gun, a few
shot, a flask of powder, and a
bottle of water. The French
marron (English “ maroon")
was an epithet applied to run-
away negroes, or to an animal
which has become wild, as
“un cochon marron," from the

Spanish cimarron, wild.
Married on the carpet and the

banns up the chimney (popular),
living as man and wife, though

not married. Marrow, local in the North of

England for a mate or fellowworkman. The word, though almost obsolete, survives in a variety of applications in the sense of one thing being like another; as in the Scottish phrase, “thae shoon are nae marrows,” these shoes are not pairs ; "his een are no marrows,” eyes are not alike-i.e., he squints; “my winsome marrow," my dear “mate,” my love, my sweetheart, my wife. The word is used by Shakspeare in a phrase hitherto unexplained by his numerous critics and commentators. Mark Antony, speaking of the as

sassination of Cæsar, says that he was “marr'd "with traitors -2.e., likened with traitors—as

if he himself had been a traitor. Marrow-bones (popular), the

nees; to go by marrow-bone
stage, to walk.
Marrowskying, vide MEDICAL

GREEK.
Mary (printers), an expression

used to indicate “nix" or
“nought," in throwing with
the nine quadrats, should it
happen that not a single one is
turned up with the nick upper-

most. Mary Ann (popular), an effemi

nate youth or young man, known in America as 'a Molly. Latin cincedus. Also a designation among the secret societies who govern and make rules for Trades Unions and associations of workmen in Great Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, of which the ob. jects are to shorten the hours of labour, maintaining and increasing the rate of wages, &c. sur La Marianne,” in 1848, was the name of a secret Republican Society in France. The Republic has been thus nicknamed. Marygold (turf), one million ster

ling. Marylebone stage (popular), the

legs. "To go by the Marylebone

stage,” i.e., to walk.
Mash (common), elegance, w00-

ing.

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jecture was not only correct, but that he could confirm it, for the term had originated with the C— family, who were all comic actors and actresses, of Romany stock, who spoke gypsy familiarly among themselves.

Mashed (common), in love.
He was mashed, so was she, they were

married, though sure They were each minus oof of their own.

-Sporting Times. Also mashed on. He also took charge of the saddle-bags, which contained a cake of tobacco and a love-letter, or, as he styled them, “a chunk of baccer and some durned gush from a gal who's got mashed on the owner."F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Masheen (tinker), a cat.

They hint that such a niggard mash

They wouldn't very much like; They'd look for ʼkerchief, scent, or sash,

Gloves, jewellery, or such like. “ 'Tis thus the green-eyed one appears,"

Says Mary Ann, with laughter; " You see I have the mash, my dears, The presents may come after.”

-Fun. To be on the mash, to be making love to; to go on the mash, to go about in search of amourettes; to mash, to make love to.

A Johnny... mashing a young lady behind the counter of a large Boulogne Chemisier, received an abrupt check.

“Avvy voo, sivvoo play, un necktieun scarf-of the colours of petite chère mam'selle's eyes-bleu !"

“Ve have not, m'sieur-vare sorreebut ve have ze scarf of ze same colaire as m'sieu's nose-rouge!"-Sporting Times.

To make an irresistible impression on girls, to make a

girl in love with one. My name it is Bertie, the little pet page,

At court I'm considered the go. My carriage and grace, my angelic face, Quite mashes the ladies, you know.

-Bertie the Masher. About the year 1860 mash was a word found only in theatrical parlance in the United States. When an actress or any girl on the stage smiled at or ogled a friend in the audience, she was said to mash him, and “mashing” was always punishable by a fine deducted from the wages of the offender. It occurred to the writer that it must have been derived from thegypsy mash (masher-ava), to allure, to entice. This was suggested to Mr. Palmer, a well-known im. presario, who said that the con

Masher (common), an exquisite,

a swell, a dandy. Imported from America. For origin vide MASH.

“Out of the way, fellow!” cried a masher the other evening, “or I will give you a dressing !” “I shouldn't try it on," answered the fellow, as he exhibited a shoulder-of-mutton fist, “or you'll still be the better dressed of the two."-Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday.

Formerly termed "flasher, blood, Jack-pudding, macaroni, buck, top-sawyer," &c. Girls call their lover their masher or

"mash.” So, friends, take my dear-bought advice,

On girls don't waste your cash If you instead of dark are fair

You'll never be their mash. The darling creature you adore

Don't fancy you're her “mark," Or think you e'er her love will gain, Unless you're " tall and dark !!

-Bird o' Freedomn.

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Mashery (common), explained by

quotation. Vide MASHER.
A mass of conceit from the head to the

feet,
A blending of "cheek” and a bashery,
A hat awry set, and a mild cigarette,
Appear as the symptoms of mashery?

-Moonshine.

Mashing, vide MASH. In the

quotation this has the meaning
of elegant and overwhelming.

The Government's prisoner apparently thought that the time had arrived when a little fresh air would be desirable, and hey presto! a new suit of clothes by some extraordinary means or another was conveyed into the prison, and when the Governor went to see Mr. O'Brien that gentleman was seated by his bedside arrayed in quite the “latest” and most inashing suit of tweeds.-Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday.

That mightey-time being chop-chop,
One young man walkey, no can stop,
Maskee snow, maskee ice,
He cally flag wit' chop so nice,
Top-side galow!

-" Excelsior” in Pidgin.
Maskin (old cant), coal.
Mason's maund (old cant), sham

sore, counterfeiting a broken

arm by a fall from scaffolding. Masoner (old cant), explained by

quotation. Masoners are a set of people that give paper for goods. There are generally three or four of them that go to a fair or market together, where one appears like a farmer or grazier, and the other two as vouchers. - The Discoveries of J. Poulter alias Baxter. Masse-stapler (old cant), a rogue

disguised as a woman.

Maskee (pidgin - English), the

commonest interjection in pidgin, meaning all right. In the Chinese “Vocabulary of Words in Use among the Red-Haired People” (i.e., Europeans), it is spelt ma-sze-ki, and defined to mean “all good.” The authors of the Anglo-Indian Glossary say it is a term meaning “Never mind,” n'importe, which is indeed the way in which it is generally used. It is also used for “anyway,” or “anyhow,” and very often in an indeterminate manner. They talk all same they savvy you—they

all can do, maskee, Such facey man in allo-tim my nevya hab

look-see. My tinkee muchee culio - he allo be

Ma-ta (pidgin), mother.

“Ma-ta hab got one-piecee chilo. Josspidgin-man hab makee dat chilo Clistun (Christian).” Matches (Stock Exchange), Bry

ant & May Shares. (American cadet), a stripling of a youth. A tall lanky cadet will often be accosted with “Hulloa,

Matches!”
Matching for keeps (American),

matching coins or marbles, odd
or even, &c., with the condition
that the money won is to be
kept.
Ever since that time he has been work-
ing industriously, accumulating wealth and
fame, and gliding swiftly for office, office
of all kinds, and abstaining scornfully from
juggling with such youthful pranks as
matching for keeps. All his leisure time
was spent in the exhilarating sprint for
fame.-Daily Inter-Ocean.

China-man,

But állo hab he head cut off, and holdee in he han'.

-The Ballad of Captain Brown.

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Matriarchs (American), old dow

agers. The analogy between this word and patriarchs is ob

vious. Matspeak (church), sixpence from

every one for the seats in the

cathedral. Mauks (popular), a term of oppro

brium for a woman among the lower classes, a prostitute.

Provincial, mawks, a slattern. Mauld (popular), very drunk. Old

provincial, mauled up, tired and

dirty. Mauley (pugilists), fist. Also

“mawlers," "mawleys."

Professor Sloggins, the eminent artist with the mauleys, will deliver a series of instructive experiences.-Sporting Times.

Also a signature. Mauleys, handy with his (pugi.

listic), clever at boxing. “Now," said the Corinthian, “ we shall see whether this supposed 'slogger' is as handy with his mauleys as my old friend Mr. Jackson."-Punch. Maunder (old cant), a beggar, a tramp.

Nor will any go to law,
With a maunder for a straw,
All which happiness, he brags,
Is only owing to his rags.
-History of Bampfylde-Moore

Carew.
From maund, a basket, as
beg from bag. Reference to a
basket occurs in several cant
terms used by the mendicant
tribe, as bawdy basket, ballad
basket. Webster gives maunder,
to beg, from the French mendier;
in German cant mumsen.

Maundring broth (old cant), a

scolding. Mavorick (West American), an

unbranded motherless calf.

Nowadays you don't dare to clap a brand on a mavorick even; and if they catch you altering a brand-hell! that's a penitentiary job. — F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Maw (popular), mouth. Mawworm (common), a hypo

crite. From Bickerstaff's play

of the “Hypocrite” (Hotten). Max (popular and thieves), gin;

said to be an abbreviation of
maxime, meaning properly the
best gin.
I bes' the cove—the merry old cove,

Of whose max all the rufflers sing;
And a lushing cove, I think, by Jove,
Is as great as a sober king!

-Lytton : Paul Clifford. But ere they could perform this pious duty, The dying man cried, “Hold! I've got

my gruel!
Oh! for a glass of max!”

-Byron : Don Juan. Max it, to (American cadet), to

say one's recitation with readiness and style. From maxime. Sometimes “to make a cold

max.”

Mazarine (popular), a common

councilman, from his wearing a mazarine blue cloak.

I had procured a ticket through the interest of Mr. —, who was one of the committee for managing the entertainment, and a mazarine.-Annual Register. M.B. waistcoat, a name said

to have been invented by an Oxford tailor for the cassockwaistcoat which the clergy

Mealer-Melton.

began to wear in the earlier
days of the Tractarian move-
ment. It meant Mark-of-the-
Bcast waistcoat.

Mealer, in temperance lingo, is

a partial abstainer who pledges
himself to drink intoxicating

liquor only at his meals.
Mean (American). The word is
most peculiar in its application
to bad quality.

The night was dark and stormy, about as mean a night as was ever experienced in Washington.-Philadelphia Post.

(West American), inferior, savage. There ain't a drop of mean blood in him.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Meant (turf), short for meant to

win. Mean white, formerly a term of

contempt among negroes for white men without landed property (Hotten).

Med. (medical students), an abbre

viation of medical student.

Common cads, who, it is well known, describe themselves as Meds. when in a scrape.---Sporting Times. Medes and Persians (Winchester

College), jumping on another

“man" when he is in bed. Medical Greek, the slang used

by medical students at the

hospitals. Medicine-Joss (pidgin), the god

of medicine, J6h-Uong. No hab got Jöh-Uong-Chü-Su, he Me. dicine-Joss outside China-side.-Captain Jones and his Medicine Chest. Medico (common), physician.

“Give him," said the worthy medico, “plenty of champagne and oysters." A week or so passed by and the doctor looked in again, finding his patient considerably better. He said to the wife, “I suppose you've been following my advice?” “Well,” she replied, "we're not very well off. Can't afford much in the way of champagne and oysters, but I've done the best I could for him with gin and cockles." -Bird o' Freedom. Megs (Stock Exchange), Mexican

Railway Ist Preference Stock.

(Old cant), guineas.
Mei-le-kween-kwok(pidgin, Can-

ton), American, 'Melican.
Melt, to (old cant), to spend

money.
Melthog (tinker), under or inner

shirt. This word has given the
theatrical slang term milltog, a
shirt, mostly used by strolling

actors.
Melton (tailors), dry bread. A

reference to Melton cloth.

Measly (popular), mean, miser

able-looking

Measured for a funeral sermon,

to be (American), to be near death's door. The allusion is obvious. He had been measured for a funeral sermon three times, he said, and had never used either one of them. He knew a clergyman named Braley who went up into that region with Bright's justly celebrated disease.- New York Mercury. Meat and drink (West Indian), a

swizzle or cocktail, in which an egg-both white and yolk-is beaten up.

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Mem-sahib (Anglo-Indian), the

(English) lady head of a family. Ma'am, madam.

“This singular example of a hybrid term is the usual respectful designation of an European married lady in the Bengal Presidency” (Anglo-Indian

Mess (army), to lose the num

ber of one's mess, to die. In nautical parlance, “to slip one's cable.” The corresponding French slang terms are, “descendre la garde, passer l'arme à gauche, défiler la parade ;” and “casser son câble, déralinguer, virer de

bord.” Mess, to (popular), to play with

a woman lewdly, to interfere unduly. Costermongers, says Hotten, refer to police supervision as “messing."

Glossary).

Mesty, mustee, mestez (Anglo

Indian), a half-caste.

Menagerie, the (theatrical), the

orchestra. So called from the infernal discord occasioned by

the tuning of instruments. Menavelings, odd money remain

ing after the daily accounts are made up at railway bookingoffices. Menavelings is properly applied to very small sums, as pence or sixpences. From menave, an old provincial word for a minnow, as if the money were small fry, and perhaps because all is fish that comes

to certain nets. Mend fences, to (American), to mend or repair fences for a man is to attend to his interests. A story of a political agent for a man who was candidate for the governorship of Rhode Island, and who succeeded in dexterously obtaining the vote of a community by paying for the restoration of their place of worship, is described in a Western newspaper as “A judicious emissary-how he repaired fences both of the church

and his candidate." Men on the fence. Vide FLOAT

ERS. Mephisto (tailors), the foreman.

Metallician (turf), a racing bookmaker. Bookmakers use metallic books and pencils (Hotten).

Little used now. Metal rule (- ) (printers). This

is a polite way of expressing a vulgar word or oath. Metal rule in speech, and “- ” in print would be used. Thus a man in irritation would say, “You be metal-ruled.”

Mets (American). In sporting

circles the members of the Metropolitan or New York baseball club are called Mets. The term is extending, so that probably ere long a New Yorker will be generally known as a Met. (Stock Exchange), Metro

politan Railway Ordinary Stock. Met, the, common abbreviation

among East-enders for the Metropolitan Music Hall.

Mew-mew—Mike.

49

Middleman (thieves), explained

by quotation. And what is worse, there doesn't seem to be any middleman in these degenerate days, who can get stolen property back for you, as in days of yore.—Bird o' Freedom.

(Tailors), the immediate employer of workmen, who contracts for others. ... The hot haste with which they were stitching away, so as to be able to earn at the rate of a shilling a day of the middleman, who paid them the magni. ficent sum of sevenpence for making a pair of gentleman's trousers.-). Greenwood : Shadows on the Blind. Middle pie (popular), the stomach. Middling (tailors), I don't think

so, I don't believe what you

say.

Mew-mew (tailors), a derisive

ejaculation meaning tell it to
some one else, "tell that to the

marines.”
Mia-mia (up-country Australian),

a bed, pronounced my-my, rest.
Mia-mia or gunyah is the hut
the Australian blackfellow con-
structs for himself by making a
sloping screen of leafy branches.
It has passed into white men's
slang. Australians say, “I'm
going to my mia-mia," meaning
"I'm going to bed” or “going

to rest.”
Within our leafy mia-mia then we crept,
And ere a man could fifty count we slept.

-Keighley Goodchild: On the Tramp.
Mickey (American), a common

word for an Irishman, the same

as Paddy.
Micky (up-country Australian), a

term for a wild bull, said to
have originated in Gippsland,
Victoria. Probably from the
association of bulls with Mickeys
or Irishmen. Micky, by the
way, has nothing in common
with Michael, as generally sup-
posed, but is derived from mike,
which see.

The rope after passing through two or three pulleys is fastened round the barrel of a windlass outside. It tightens, the micky feels the strain, and gives a great leap.-A. C. Grant. Middies (Stock Exchange), Mid

land Railway Ordinary Stock.
Middy is a common term for a
midshipman.
Middle, an old cant term for

finger. Vide Breton's “Court
and Country," 1618.
VOL. II.

Midgic (tinker), a shilling.
Miesli, misli (tinker), to go, to

come, to send. The origin of
“mizzle,” begone. It is not
generally, or in fact at all,
known how extensively Shelta
is understood among vagrants
even in London. It has probably
been the medium by which
many Celtic words have passed
into English. Misli means in
Shelta not only to go, but to
transfer by going or transit,
hence to send, and also to send
a message or write. E.g., “ Misli
to my bewer,” write to my
woman, or wife; “My deal is
mislin to krady in the kiena,"
I am going to stay in the
house. Also to rain.

Mike (tailors), to do a mike, to

pretend to be working or hang

D

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about. The term is also used as a verb. A corruption of old English mich (still used by printers), to skulk or shirk work. Mild (common), inferior, applied

to a feeble attempt. Vide DRAW IT MILD.

Mild bloater (popular), weak

young man who has pretensions to being horsey.

Miles' boy (tailors), a very know

ing lad in receipt of much in

formation. Miles' boy is spotted (common),

a saying addressed to any one in a printing-office who begins to spin a yarn. “Miles' boy” was a young gentleman attached to the last coach which started from Hampstead, and was celebrated for his faculty of diverting the passengers with anecdotes and tales. Miles' boy is spotted, we know all about

Miles' boy. Milestonemonger (common), one

who likes roaming, a tramp. Of all men I should be the last to utter a harsh word against the most inveterate milestonemonger that ever fled from his family to enjoy the sweets of freedom.-). Greenwood : Tag, Rag & Co. Mile, to (society), to ride on the Ladies' Mile in Hyde Park.

At six o'clock within the Park,
Midst beauty, rank, and style,
I canter on my bonny bay,
Adown the Ladies' Mile.
I mile-I mile-
When riding down the Mile.

-Ballad: The Ladies' Mile.

Milk hole (Winchester), the hole

formed by the rush of water

through lock gates. Milk horse (racing), a horse en

tered at a race to make money on, and always scratched before the affair comes off. Vide To

MILK. Milk shake (American), explained

by quotation.

The latest craze in New York is the use of milk in numerous ways, and the dairy trade is enjoying a boom in consequence. The greatest calls for the lacteal fluid are from physicians and their patients, and from saloons and drug stores, where the milk shake has become a favourite beverage.--Sporting Times. Milk, to (popular), to bleed,

to obtain money from by coaxing, &c. (Turf), to lay against a horse fraudulently, i.e., when the bettor has full knowledge that the horse is not meant to win, or has the power and intention of preventing him from

so doing. Milky ones (popular), white linen

rags. Mill (popular and thieves), the

treadmill. Was you never on the mill?—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

(Common), a fight.
Quite cautiously the mill began,
For neither knew the other's plan.

-Ainsworth : Rookwood.
The Mill was the old Insolvent
Debtors' Court.
Mill, to (popular), to fight; to

pound with the fists, as beating corn with a stone.

Mill-Miller.

Che hole

f water

orse en = money

My Lord related all his feats in London . .' how he had milled a policeman. -Thackeray: Shabby-Genteel Story.

From mall, to hammer, stamp or beat ; malle, a hammer ; Latin malleus ; Aryan root mar. (Thieves and vagabonds), to kill, as “to mill a bleating cheate,” to kill a sheep.

before Tide To

plained

an apter illustration for the saying than that which he has adopted, and left both England and the baker out of the question. The water is said to“drown the miller" when the mill-wheels are rendered useless for work in flood time by superabundance of the fluid. The saying was exemplified by the American miller, whose wife in his opinion was a great poetess—who, seeing that the useful mill-stream had become a raging, useless torrent, looked up to it, her eye in a fine frenzy rolling, and ex

claimed" This here water Comes down much faster than it ought

ter!”

Mill a ken, to (thieves), to com-
mit burglary.
To mill each ken let Cove bing then,
Through Ruffmans, Jague, or Laund.
- The English Rogue described in the

Life of Meriton Latroon.
Also to steal. Probably the old
gypsy mill or miller, to convey
away, to take. “Old Ruffler mill
the quire-cuffin,” i.e., the devil

take the Justice of the Peace.
Mill-clapper (old cant), a woman's

tongue.
Milled (thieves), a reference to

the treadmill.

I shouldn't have been milled, if it hadn't been for her advice ... and what's six weeks of it?- Dickens : Oliver Twist. Miller (old cant), a murderer,

housebreaker. (Common), to drown the miller, is, according to Bartlett, to put too much water in the flour in making bread, which he says is “doubtless an English expression.” At all events, he adds, that“putting the miller's eye out” is a phrase used when too much liquid is put to a dry or powdery substance. As water-mills are far more common in the United States than wind-mills, Mr. Bartlett might easily have found

A gentleman had mixed his toddy, when
a teetotaller sitting beside him said, in a
deep voice :

“There's death in that glass !”
“What did you say?" replied the other.

“There's death in that glass !" repeated
the cold-water man, in a still more sepul.
chral tone.

The gentleman looked at his toddy inquiringly, ladled some out, sipped it slowly to taste it better, and at length

linen

the

said :

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“You're right-you're right. I believe I have drowned the miller," and at once proceeded to strengthen his liquor. Scraps.

To give one the miller, to engage a person in conversation till a sufficient number of persons have gathered together to set upon the victim with stones, dirt, garbage, &c. Vide To MILL. Generally to hoot at, to handle roughly, to ill-treat.

The special correspondent of the Evening News appears to have been brutally maltreated at Exeter. Future generations

tent

to

eat

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of correspondents will do well to reflect upon his “two lovely black eyes," and to pause ere working up ultra-sensational matter about this city, whose inhabitants are of the rough and ready order. Upon one occasion they did not spare their bishop-the present Bishop of Londonwho fairly “got the miller" whilst addressing a meeting at the Victoria Hall.-Bird o Freedom,

Miller, to (old cant), to robor

steal. (Gypsy), to convey away, remove, involving stealing. Miller in gypsy means also to mix, mingle, add up, count, colour, adjust. Hindu, milana. Vide To MILL A KEN.

his profession, would likewise raise a man in what the world esteems a more honourable calling."-Fielding: Jonathan Wild. Mill-lay (thieves), burglary. Vide

To MILL A KEN. Mil-mil (Australian bush slang),

see. Mil-mil is a blackfellow's word that the whites have incorporated into their slang, principally in the pidgin-English in which the whites carry on their conversation with the blacks.

“Here, Mahiny,” said one to his chief, “here that been cut him head off. You mil-mil blood.”

I shuddered. There, now that it was pointed out to me, on the very stone I had sat down on when stripping to search for the body, the blood-stains were plain. They spattered the dead leaves and stained the grass stalks.-A. C. Grant : Bush Life in Queensland. Mill the glaze, to (thieves), break

the window. Vide To MILL A KEN.

Milling (popular), fighting.

With Tommy Sayers, too, I've felt
To box I would be willing;
I should have won his cups and belt-
I stand Ar at milling.

-Bill Sykes: The Coiner's Song

(West America), explained by quotation. He plunges into the fray with as much mastery of himself as possible, singling out the finest-conditioned head, wasting no balls, and, instead of keeping the frightened game on the run, executing the cowboy's device to check a stampede of cattle, namely, milling.-H. L. Williams : In the Wild West. Milling Cove (popular), prize

fighter.
Two milling coves, each vide avake,
Vere backed to fight for heavy stake.

-Ainsworth : Rookwood.

Mill the quod, to (thieves), to

break away from jail. Milltog (theatrical), a shirt.

From the tinker melthog. Millwash (tailors), vest canvas.

Mill, in the army), to be a

prisoner in the guardroom.

Mimming mugger (theatrical).

From obsolete to mime, to mimic, play the buffoon. “A buffoon, who attempts to excite laughter or derision, by acting or speaking in the manner of another, a mean and servile imitator” (Ogilvie). Of this class are the ape-like animals who, in burlesquing the strongly marked peculiarities

Mill-ken (old cant), housebreaker.

Mr. Wild, with much solemnity, rejoined “that the same capacity which qualifies a mill-ken, a bridle-cull, or a buttock-andfile to arrive at any degree of eminence in

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of eminent artists, hold them up to derision and contempt. “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king,” and amongst mimics, the monkey is

legitimate monarch. Mind your eye (popular), take

care. Mind your p's and q's (popular),

observe the details of etiquette. Of mind your p's and q's Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, in the Australian Printers Keepsake, writes, “This advice has a most distinct smack of its origin and extraction, and is now in general use in society which is probably unaware of the source of its obligation. Most unmistakably it originated in the pardonable confusion with which a beginner is likely to treat

characters' so much alike as pand q, when first making their acquaintance in a reversed form. It is a near relation of 'to speak by the card,' to which it has a preferential claim on those who endeavour to fulfil the ceremonial law of politenessetiquette.”

a single man, that he already
had a well-filled library, and in
reality wanted nothing. The
students, not at all satisfied with
this answer, determined to pre-
sent him with a silver cham-
ber-pot. One was accordingly
made of the appropriate dimen-
sions and inscribed with these
words:-
“Mingere cum bombis

Res est saluberrima lumbis.” On the morning of Commencement Day this was borne in procession, in a morocco case, and presented to the tutor. Tradition does not say with what feelings he received it, but it remained for many years at a room in Quincy, where he was accustomed to spend his Saturdays and Sundays, and finally disappeared about the beginning of the Revolutionary War. It is supposed to have

been carried to England. Minor (Harvard University), a

water - closet. This term is peculiar to Harvard and is of classical derivation, from minor, smaller, “house” being under

stood. Minor-clergy (popular), young

chimney-sweeps. Mint (old cant), gold. Also a

sanctuary in Southwark for those who fled from their creditors. Hence “minters,” the inhabitants there.

Mingo (Harvard University), a

chamber-pot. An amusing story in this connection is told of Harvard. Many years ago, some students wishing to make a present to their tutor, Mr. Flynt, called on him, informed him of their intention, and requested him to select a gift which would be acceptable to him. He replied that he was

Miserere seats, in many churches

and chapels seats so constructed

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that if the occupier went to sleep when sitting on one of them he tumbled off.

Misfit (tailors), said of an awk

ward man, badly built. Mish (thieves), a shirt. From

“commission," which see. Mish it them (tinker), hit it hard ! Mishtopper (thieves), a coat. Vide

MISH. Mislain (tinker), rain, to rain.

Mislain (or miesli, misli), in the Shelta or tinkers' dialect, also means to go. Vide To

MIZZLE. Miss (printers). In printers' par

lance a miss is an omission to lay on a sheet in feeding a

printing machine. Miss Baxter (American), a person

occasionally referred to in New England in reference to those who are “too previous,” or too

prompt in love-making, &c. There was a nice young lady named Miss

Baxter, Refused a fine young man before he axed

her. Miss one's figure, to (common),

to miss a chance, to make a

mistake. Miss the tip, to (circus), to fall

short of an order, suggestion, intention, or object. This is used generally in slang, but in exhibitions it has a special application to the performer not understanding or catching the tip or word which indicates that he must act.

Missy baba (Anglo-Indian), a

young lady; a term borrowed from the natives, baba being meant for baby. “Is Miss Smith at home?” was asked of a native servant by a visitor. “No, Missy baba in tub eating mango,” was the answer. Mistura God help 'em (medical),

the title of an omnium gatherum of medicines, generally the collected dregs of several bottles, said to have been given as a last resource on the off-chance of some one of the many drugs having a beneficial (!) effect. From a story that a certain man who had a valuable mare apparently dying, gave her all the old odds and ends of medicine in his garret, labelled “Fiat mistura, God help and cure her!” The mare recovered, but, “ singular to relate," every disease for which the medicines were intended came out on her one after the other!

Mitten (American), to give the mitten, to dismiss as a lover. Hotten confines the word to Canada. In Germany a discarded suitor is said to get a basket. Had I only got her gloveWithout a g—- I'd have her love. But the lilting jilting kitten, Has bestowed on me a mitten.

-The Sorrows of Sam. Possibly from the old custom of throwing the glove down as a sign of defiance, or derisively bestowing a mitten instead of a glove as a keepsake. M. E.

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ning witticisms that pleased the unfastidious public of the time : • First they reigned, and then they mizzled. The point of the joke consisted in the double meaning of the word mizzle, which signifies to disappear silently, to vanish. Thomas Hood used the word in the same sense.” And then one mizzling Michael night, The lout he mizzled too.

-Laughter from Year to

Year.

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-Punch.

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Mizzler or rum mizzler (popu

lar), one clever at effecting an escape, or getting out of a difficulty. Vide To MIZZLE.

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Mob (thieves), gang.

Being with the nice mob (gang) you may be sure what I learned. I went out at the game three or four times a week, and used to touch almost every time.Horsley : Jottings fron Jail.

(Up-country Australian), a herd, a flock. Occasionally they passed through a mob standing on the roadside, and John was greatly amused at seeing some of the young calves and steers advancing boldly to them with many airs of assumed anger.-A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland.

(Popular), a young woman, a corruption of mab.

cure

but,

dis.

ines her

Mizzle, to (common), to go away,

decamp, vanish. “Come, come,” the Saint answer’d, “you

very well know,
The young man's no more his than your

own to bestow-
Touch one button of his if you dare, Nick-

no! no!
Cut your stick, sir,-come, mizzle! be off

with you! go!”
The Devil grew hot—"If I do I'll be shot!
An' you come to that, Cuthbert, I'll tell

you what's what,
He has asked us to dine here, and go we
will not!"

-Ingoldsby Legends.
From the Shelta or tinkers'
dialect (Celtic), miesli, mislain,
to go. In the same tongue needy
mizzler, a tramp.

“ To mizzle-synonymous with drizzle—thick, fine, persistent downfall of moisture from a foggy sky. About George IV., and afterwards William IV., the vulgar punsters of the time indulged themselves in the pun

Mobs (thieves), companions.
Mobsman (thieves), pickpocket.

Getting obsolete.
My cousin's a fence, with a crib in the

Mint;
My sister goes out with a mobsman so
smart.
-). Greenwood: A Night in a

Workhouse. Mockered (common), dirtied, de

filed. Hotten defines this as “holey, marked unpleasantly." It is the gypsy mūkkado, often pronounced mockerdo, or mock

Mods-Moll-hook.

ered, meaning smeared, defiled, dirtied, spotted, and sometimes “painted.”

Mods, short for Moderations, the

intermediate examination at Oxford.

Mofussil (Anglo-Indian), the pro

vinces, or the country stations and districts as distinguished from the Presidency, or the rural localities of a district as contradistinguished from the Sudder or chief station. The word (Hind. from Arab.) mufassal, means properly “ separate,” and hence provincial (Anglo-Indian Glossary).

Moko, a name given by sportsmen

to pheasants killed by mistake during September, before the pheasant-shooting season comes in. They pull out their tails, and roundly assert that they are no pheasants at all; but mokos (Hotten). Moko is probably from “mock," or a

humorous corruption of macaw. Moles (up-country Australian),

moleskin breeches. Though our pants are moles, and appa

rently made With the aid of a tomahawk; Though we are not in fashion's garb

arrayed,
We can revel in tea and talk.
-Keighley Goodchild: While the

Billy Boils.
Moll (thieves), a girl, woman.

At the head of the letter the following was written across the page : “ Poison the moll.”—Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

A female companion, wife, or mistress.

Moging (tailors), telling an un

truth.

Moisten. Vide CHAFFER.

The party congratulated him that his moll would be in good hands.-Evening News.

Moke, the costermonger's name

for a donkey, first given in anger or contempt, or as an objurgation to urge the animal to go on; but now more commonly used in affection for the useful beast. “It originally signified a pig, from the Gaelic muich, but has long ceased to have the objectionable meaning among the class who use it.” Another derivation is from Swedish moka, quarrelsome, obstinate, sullen. Also mocka, dung ; both terms of abuse. What the horse is to the predatory Arab, the donkey is to the costermonger-his all-in-all. The “coster" would sooner sell his wife in Smithfield, if the law would permit, than “swap” his moke at the cattle market.-Diprose : London Life

This word, from its resemblance to the nickname for Mary, is assumed to be the same. Compare with “poll,” “polled up." It has been suggested that it owes its form to the gypsy Hindu māl, which means a female friend or ally. Moll-sack, a reticule. Molled (popular), in company

with a woman. Moll - hook (thieves), a female

pickpocket.

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Moll-rowing. Hotten says that

this means “out on the spree
in company with so-called 'gay
women,' in allusion to the ama-
tory serenadings of the London
cats.” It may be derived, and
probably was, from Moll, and
row, a noise. There appears to
have been also, nearly a century
ago, a very noted woman named
Moll Roe, who is often alluded
to in the “fast” literature of the
time, and who formed the sub-
ject of a song; but whether this
was not a pseudonym borrowed
from the term, we are not in-
formed.
Or whistle Moll Roe to a pig.

-Irish Song. Moll-slavey (old cant), maid

servant.

Moll, to, molling (common), to

go with women, to act effeminately. To coddle up or cuddle. Dutch, mallen, to play the fool, to behave one's self wantonly.

Malloot, a foolish girl or wench. Molly (printers), “ Mary.” Prac

tically a blank in jeffing with the nine quadrats, when no nicks appear uppermost in the quadrats thrown; hence no count. (London slang), a young sodom

continued, "hit wuz Miss Molly Cotton-
tail, en I speck we better let it go at dat."
- Uncle Remus.
Molocher (popular), a cheap hat.
Molo-man (pidgin), i.e., moro, a

Moor, a negro.
Molto cattivo (circus, theatre,

Punch and Judy, &c.), very bad,

doing badly. Molungeon (American). Mr.

Henry A. Wise once said, in the Legislature of Virginia, that a mulatto was the offspring of the young gentleman heir-apparent of an estate with one of the family or house servants, but that the child of a female field-labourerbya Yankee pedlar

was a molungeon. Monarch (popular and thieves),

a man's signature or name. Literally the king, number one. Evidently a term suggested by exalted ideas of one's self-importance. This explanation is supported by the Italian cant term monarco, signifying I, myself, which has given the French monarque, same meaning. Also

montagna, mia madre. Mondayish (popular), disinclined

for work, Monday being a day
for amusement among workmen.
(Clerical), used up, tired. A
phrase that has its origin in
the clergyman's supposed state
of fatigue on Monday, after the

work of Sunday.
Moniker, monacher (popular,

thieves, and tinker), a man's

ite.

Molly Cotton-tail (American), a

she-rabbit. “Which of the girls did the Rabbit marry?” asked the little boy dubiously.

“I did year tell un 'er name,” replied the old man, with a great affectation of interest, "but look like I done gone en fergit it off'n my mine. Ef I don't disremember," he

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signature or name. A corruption of “monarch,” which see. When the "box-man” reached out the tools, the new comer seized a pick-axe, which was immediately claimed by another man. The new arrival quietly said, “There's my moniker upon it.”—Evening News. Monk (printers). Mr. Edward

Fitzgerald, in “The Australian
Printers' Keepsake," writes :-
“Sometimes a monk is the object
of solicitude, an unsightly black-
ness caused by furniture 'show-
ing, or undistributed ink. It is
a saying manifestly originating
with the venerable Caxton him-
self, and evidently alluding to
the unwelcome intrusion of the
gentlemen of the Scriptorium,
near which portion of West-
minster Abbey Caxton com-
menced his English labours."
Monk is also applied to a proof
which is too black, and “ friar"
when it is too light or grey.
From the respective colours of
their garments. Vide FRIAR.

(American), abbreviation of monkeying, trifling with. Vide

To MONKEY. Monkery (tinker), the country.

Adopted into common canting, and used especially by Punch

and Judy men, itinerants, &c. Monkey (turf), five hundred

pounds. The cry not unfrequently heard in the ring of “The field a monkey,” means that the layer is willing to bet 500 even against any one horse in the race. Later on 400 to 500 was accepted, and finally seven monkeys. - Sporting Times.

(Common), to get one's monkey up, to rouse his anger. Hotten says “ a man is said to have the monkey up, or the monkey on his back, when he is out of temper.” Probably in allusion originally to the evil spirit which was supposed to be always present with a man. A variant in some parts is “to stroke the black dog down.” Monkey-board, the step behind an omnibus on which the conductor stands. (Legal), monkey with a long tail, a mortgage. (Popular), a short jacket, a hod for mortar or bricks. 'Pon me sowl, I was sick, sore, and tired of goin' up and down the latther wid that ould monkey on me shoulder. T. Browne : Gilligan's on the Spree.

(Nautical), the vessel in which a mess receives its allowance of grog. Sucking the monkey, explained by quotation. “Do you know what sucking the monkey means?” “No, sir.” “Well, then, I'll tell you; it's a term used among sea. men for drinking rum out of cocoa-nuts, the milk having been poured out, and the liquor substituted.” – Marryat : Peter Simple.

Also drinking generally, or abstracting liquor from a cask by sucking with a straw. Her late lamented was only a low customs' officer, who had been bowled out sucking the monkey.-Sporting Times.

Monkey catcher (West Indian).

Amongst the Jamaican negroes this signifies a cute, shrewd, and level - headed individualone not too scrupulous in his methods, and who adds a spice

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Also to make, effect, execute
in any way. Used jestingly or
sarcastically.
Andrew Jones he wuz er artis'

On he high an' lofty scale,
Fo’he monkeyed wid de ceilin'
An' de white-wash brush an' pail.

-S. Keller. “Wall, old hoss,” I says to Meissonier, “how much do you git a squar' yard fer monkeyin' such a pictur as thet ar'?”— The Hoosier in Europe.

of cunning to his cleverness. If a piece of work, or any matter requires special care and attention in its execution, they say, “Soffly catch monkcy," meaning, take care, exercise tact, don't go blundering, that matter requires finesse and judgment to carry it through. Looked at in any light, the phrase is a curious one. In the first place, it is a good illustration of a certain rough and elementary shrewdness in the negro character; and further, is an example of the hold which the memory of African life still retains upon them, inasmuch as there are no monkeys indigenous to Jamaica, and the phrase is most likely

of African origin. Monkey on one's back, to get a

(popular), to get out of temper. Monkeys (printers), another ex

pression used by pressmen to denote a compositor by way of retaliation for calling them “pigs.”

Monopolises the macaroon

(masher), a new way of saying it takes the cake. “ Devilish fine gal, deah boy." “Yaas, quite takes the cake, Cholly.”

“Bah Jove, yass, monopolises the macaroon, don't cher know.” – Conversation Overheard in a Theatre.

Mon. os. (Westminster School),

abbreviation of monitor ostii, the Queen's scholar of the second election, who announces the hour in Latin at the close of school.

Monkey shines (popular), eccen

y shines (popular), eccentricities, queer actions.

How can human beings be guilty of such monkey shines.—Detroit Free Press. Monkey, to (American), to play

tricks, to trifle, to fool with, to tamper with, obviously from the mischievousness and trickiness of these animals. It had on it, “Please don't monkey with this Indian-rubber trunk. It has loaded guns and pistols, and it won't stand any monk."—New York Mercury.

Mons (Winchester College).

From the Latin mons, a mountain, a heap or crowd, a pile of

anything. Month (city), “a bad attack of

the end of the month,” in the city, is to have run through one's funds about the 20th, . and to have to borrow for the remaining ten days.

Mooch (common), the robbers' mooch is that peculiar wellknown step or striding walk of the brigand or bravo in a melodrama. On the mooch, vide То Моосн.

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Mooch, mouch, to (general), to

sponge, to slink away and allow others to pay for your entertainment, to look out for any articles or circumstances which may be turned to a profitable account; also for scraps of food, old clothes, watching in the streets for odd jobs, horses to hold. Loafing about in quest of any. thing that may turn up in the shape of amusement, strolling about to look at the girls. Also begging, explained by quotations. He may while away the tedium of the tramp by mooching. Mooching is the art of getting what things you want to eat at different houses. A successful moocher must be a man of some imagination who can not only lie, but lie in a logical and plausible manner; that is not to be caught by the most rigid cross-examination.Detroit Free Press.

Here I assume the proper mouching pose-stoop my head, bend my shoulders, ... to look at, I am the incarnation of all that is forlorn; and I tell you I cannot get to the end of Bishopsgate Street without being stopped by a dozen people, all of whom thrust something into my hand. Thor Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places.

To mooch is from old English mooch, mich, to creep softly about, to skulk, stroll, idle

about, pick while strolling. Moocher, moucher (popular), a

street thief, a beggar. My friend, the tramp, admitted with some excusable pride that he was considered in the profession a successful moocher.-Detroit Free Press.

Also one who “sponges” on acquaintances; one who slinks away and allows others to pay for his drink.

Moochy (Anglo-Indian), a man

who works in leather in any way. The name of a low caste. Hindu, mochi. In English gypsy, leather is called morchea

or mortchy. Moolvee (Anglo-Indian), a judge

or doctor of the law. Arabic maulavi, from the same root as mūllā (Anglo-Indian Glossary). A pundit in Bengal or molavee

May daily see a carcase burn;
But you can't furnish, for the soul of ye,

A dirge sans ashes and an urn? -N. B. Halhed: Anglo-Indian Glossary. Moon (thieves), a month or

month's imprisonment.

They ask the reeler if I was known, and he said no, so I was sent to Maidstone Street (prison) for two moon.—Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Moonack (West Indian), pro

bably of African origin. A mythical animal known to negroes only. To meet it, is to be doomed to madness or some

lingering disease. Moon-curser (old cant), a link

boy or one that under colour of lighting people robs them.

Also termed a “glim-jack.” Mooney (nautical), not quite in

toxicated, but sufficiently so to

be unfit for duty. Moonlight(American University),

to make a rush for moonlight is to attempt to get the prize

for elocution. Moonlight flitting (common),

leaving a house by night to avoid paying the rent. Vide FLY-BY-NIGHT.

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Moonlighters (common), men in

Ireland who carry out sentences
of secret societies against in-
dividuals and perform their
work of violence by night.

The road on either side is bounded with
a low wall composed of ragged little slabs
of stone, loosely laid and loopholed to an
extent that would delight the heart of an
Irish moonlighter.-). Greenwood : Tag,
Rag, & Co.
Moon-rakers (nautical), sails

above the sky-sails. Moonshee (Anglo-Indian), a secre

tary, a reader, an interpreter, a writer. It is commonly applied by Europeans specifically to a native teacher of languages, i.e., Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. Its authenticity was fully proved by Persian moonshee, who translated. --Mill: History. Moonshine (common), decep'tion, nonsense, humbug. (Old), gilded moonshine, sham bills of

exchange. Moonshiner (American), a smug

gler, illicit distiller.

As both brothers had now escaped to the mountains, which are filled with moonshiners, it was thought that the Burrows had made good their escape.---Chicago Inter Ocean. Moonshiny (common), deceptive.

The National publishes an extraordinary, and, of course, a very moonshiny summary of General Boulanger's programme as confided by the deputy for the Nord to a friend on Sunday night.Sporting Times. Moose-face (American thieves), a

rich, ugly-faced man. Mop (common), an habitual drun

kard. From an obvious meta

phor. On the mop, continu-
ally drinking. It may be inte-
resting to remark that mop in
its proper sense is from old
French mappe, Latin mappa, a
napkin. “Some suppose mop
to be of Celtic origin, as we
have Welsh mopa and mop, Irish
moipal ; but it is probable that
these are from the English”
(Skeat). It may be added that
there are a great many Celtic
words which have Aryan roots,
and, of course, a resemblance to

Saxon or English.
Moper (popular), a deserter.

From mope, a spiritless person.
Mopped the floor (American), a

common slang phrase, signifying that one man has thrashed another so completely as to have taken him like a broom or a mop, and swept or cleaned the floor with him. In speaking of Charles A. Dana, of the New York Sun, who is noted for the severity and savageness of his attacks, an admiring Western editor wrote, “Uncle Dana proceeded to mop the floor with his opponent.”

When Smith
Came on to fight, he took him by the heels,
And mopped the stage with him until 'twas

clean. -Brand New Ballads.
At last the crisis came, when one fine day,
For some imagined fault, the boarder said
Unto the waiter, that unless he stirred
A little quicker, he would bung his eye,
And take him by the legs, instanterly,
And wipe the floor with him.

-Est Modus in Rebus.
Moppy (common), tipsy. From

“to mop” or “mop up,” which

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see. Some of the numerous synonyms are,"slewed, queer, tosticated, so so, been in the sun, muggy, murky, muzzy, fresh, glorious, bright in the eye, dull in the eye, overtaken, overshot, overdone, done over, lushy, tight, foggy, hazy, swipey, lumpy, obfuscated, groggy, ploughed, bosky, buffy, in liquor, far gone, sewed up, mooney, half seas over, disguised; drunk as an emperor, as a wheel-barrow, as David's sow, as a fish, as a lord, as a piper, as a fiddler," and the old expression “has a drop in his eye.” “Boozy” and “hoodman” are now much in vogue among “mashers.” The writer has seen a collection of nearly 300 synonyms for drunkenness, mostly American.

The fourth I hooked but lost, and by that time the rest of the capricious tribe simultaneously ceased rising, and refused to be tempted. Had I been there earlier, I might possibly have mopped up the entire row.—Sir Henry Pottinger: Trout Fishing. Mopusses (popular), cash, coin, money. He that has the mopusses May buy diamonds and topazes.

-Punch. Possibly a corruption of “mops,” grimaces, faces. Compare with French slang faces, for coin. This is, of course,

mere conjecture. Mora (Anglo-Indian), a stool. In

common use among the English

in India. Moral (popular). “That's a

moral,' equivalent to “ that's a
certainty.” Short for a moral
certainty.
They must come a cropper soon,
They muttered-that's a moral.

-Punch. Morfydite (American), a maritime

pronunciation for hermaphrodite, generally applied to the so-called hermaphrodite brig, a vessel between a brig and a

schooner. Morris, to (old cant), to hang

dangling in the air, to be hanged. (Theatrical), to make oneself scarce. Alluding in both senses to the quick motions of the legs in the morris (or Moorish) dance. Also used by tailors

with a like signification. Mort (canting), a woman. The

same in old gypsy. Hindu,

Mops (provincial). Statute fairs

or “statties” are held, where servants seek to be hired. After the statute fair, a second is held for the benefit of those not engaged. This is called a mop, as it mops or wipes up the refuse of the statute fair, carrying away the dregs of the servants left.

There is hardly a clergyman or a schoolmaster in the Northern and Midland Counties who is not able to make out the strongest of cases against mops, "roasts," and “statties"—fairs or quasi-fairs, which were formerly very useful for the opportunities they afforded to farmers and housewives for annually hiring labourers and domestic servants.—Daily Telegraph.

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Mort-Moshkeneer.

mahar, a wife, woman. It is not improbable that the French word motte (pud. mul.), which has long been common in England for a woman, and that which the French word expresses, has caused the gypsies to add the t. The gypsies very commonly use minj for a woman. Tissot, in his work on Hungary, innocently mentions that gali ming (English-gypsy kālo minj) means a dark girl! This derivation is more probable than that from the Welsh modryb, a matron; and moryun, a virgin, given by C. J. Ribton Turner in his “ History of

Vagrants and Vagrancy” (1887). Mortar-board (University), the

square cap forming part of the academical dress of all mem. bers of the university. Said to be a corruption of the French mortier cap worn by Presidents of Courts. "And as your skill,” resumed Mr. Tozer, “has been exercised in defence of my person ... I will overlook your offence in assuming that portion of the academical attire, to which you gave the offensive epithet of mortar-board."-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

It may seem strange that an educated gentleman prefers to wander in the streets of Oxford in the evening, clad in horsey “checks” or bookmaker's stripes, in preference to the tattered gown and battered mortar-board, constituting the costume of an undergraduate.-Bird o Freedom.

often used by printers. “To show no 'mos," is to express no

grudge against a companion. Moses, a man that for a con

sideration declares himself to be the father of another man's child. Grose says, “A man is said to stand Moses when he has another man's bastard child fathered upon him, and he is obliged by the parish to maintain it.” This may be connected with a phrase given by Cotgrave, “Holie Moses, whose ordinarie counterfeit having on either side of the head an eminence or luster, arising somewhat in the forme of a horne, hath imboldened a prophane author to stile cuckolds parents de Moyse” (Hall). The Moses of Michael Angelo has decided horns, probably based on the

head of Jupiter Ammon. Mosh, to (thieves), dining at

an eating-house, and leaving without paying. Also doing the mosh on the quiet. A corruption of .“mooch,” which see.

Moshkeneer, to (common), to

pawn an article for more than it is worth. There are watches and articles of jewellery made for the special purpose of swindling, and which appear to be of solid gold or silver, but which are only covered with thin rolled metal. Probably from the Yiddish or German-Hebrew mos, money, and kenner, one who knows, one who is “fly," as in

Also mortar. Some of them wore a mortar on their heads.-Fuller: Pisgah. 'Mos (printers), an abridgment

of the word “animosity,” very

Moshkeneer-Mother.

the word kenner-fetzer, a thieves' butcher. The word moss, it may be observed, has in slang taken a wide range, and is quite applicable not only to money or gold coin, but also to any kind

of valuables. Mosque (old cant), a church. Moss-backs (American), old

fogies, “fossils,” men behind the times. People who are “ groovy,” and slow to learn or advance.

The Dodo didn't exsight as much curi. osity as might have been expected; but when I cum to look into the matter, I found a dozen or more county offishels with moss on their backs an inch an'a half long, and they had sorter promted the populace (out of jealousy) to look koldly upon my great livin' kuriosity.- Detroit Free Press : Letter by Professor Brown Whyte.

a formal notice, usually written in a feigned hand, and running after this fashion :

"Whereas it has come to our knowledge that Joseph Greenhorn is an aspirant to Thespian honours, it is our good will and pleasure that the said Greenhorn shall provide on Saturday next, at the hour of nine, for the delectation of his brethren, my children, in their respective dressing-rooms at the Theatre Royal, Slumstone in the Mud, one bottle of brandy, one of whisky, one of gin, two dozens of soda, and a gallon of beer. Whereupon the boys shall drink said Greenhorn's jolly good health, and wish him luck in all his undertakings, present, and to come. The said Greenhorn is warned that disobedi. ence to our commands will be attended with pains and penalties of the most stringent character. Given under our hand and seal at our Palace of Slumstone.

(Signed)
Robin Goodfellow,
Hon. Secretary.
Shawney x Mother,

Her Mark.” If the neophyte failed to obey this mysterious mandate, the following week he received a more peremptory one, the week after one more imperative still. If he still remained obdurate, he would find his dressing-case rifled and upset, his properties destroyed, his ward

Mot (general), a harlot. Turner

(“ History of Vagrants and Vagrancy") says, “ Mot huys is a brothel in Dutch, but mot is not a word of Dutch origin.” It is, however, an old Dutch slang word, whatever its origin may be. In the “Wordenboek van Bargoensch," mot is given as hoer. “Te mot gaen.” Motkasse is the true Dutch slang for a brothel.

Mot-cart (popular), a mattress.

Vide Mot.

Mother Shawney (theatrical), a

rude offshoot of the Mary Anne. An institution to compel a new member of a company to pay his footing. It was the custom for the novice to be served with

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robe ransacked, the sleeves of his dress-coat cut and tied in knots, his hat smashed, bis boots filled with filth, &c. Of course, he met with an abundance of affected sympathy ; and, of course, no one ever knew who perpetrated these playful practical jokes. Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, was ubiqui. tous. There was nothing for it but to grin and bear, and pay.

This institution flourished for a considerable period, until a quarter of a century ago, when, one night at Liverpool, a young actor, who afterwards attained considerable celebrity, refused to obey Mother Shawney's behests, and catching Robin Goodfellow in flagrante delicto (i.e., tampering with his dressing-case and wardrobe), gave the tricksy sprite a sound licking, and intimated that the dose would be repeated, if necessary. It never was necessary. From that time this charming institution frizzled away until it died out altogether, and Mother Shawney rests in peace in the lumber-closet of antiquity.

And when on the mouch in the park she

was met While supposed to be "churching,” they thought it, you bet,

Somewhat strange!

-Bird o' Freedom. Moulder (pugilistic), a lumbering

boxer who fights as if he were

moulding clay. Mouldy (naval), purser's steward,

or assistant. Mouldy grubs (popular), travel

ling showmen, mountebanks

who perform in the open air. Mouldy pates (street), servants

in livery with hair powder. Mouldy ’un, a contemptuous term

for a penny.

The chief verger informed him that the fee was eighteen mouldy 'uns for maimed ladies.--Sporting Times. Mount (thieves). Applied not

only as in England to men who will swear falsely, but also to those who hire clothes out for disguise; also to those who wear second-hand clothes even honestly. (Old cant), a bridge; “stall on the mount,"

stop on the bridge. Mountain - pecker (popular), a

sheep's head. Mounter (thieves), a false swearer.

Vide MOUNT. Mount, to (theatrical), to “get

up” a piece, i.e., to provide

scenery, costumes, &c. . Mourning (common), a full suit

of mourning, two black eyes ; half-mourning, one black eye.

Mouchey (popular), a Jew.
Mouch, on the (common), strol.

ling about in quest of amusement; at Oxford, strolling about to watch the girls. For

other meaning vide To MOOCH. But when once or twice she remained out

so late, That her people all night her return had

to wait; VOL. II.

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Mourning shirts (common), flan.

nel shirts, that do not require washing so often as others. We say mourning shirts, it being customary for men in sadness to spare the pains of their laundresses. Thos. Fuller : Pisgah.

Mouse (pugilistic) a black eye,

now a common expression.
Poor Chinnery, our favourite “pug,”

I fear came off but ill;
He has a blister on his foot,

'Twould take a pint to fill.
His “dexter ogle” has a mouse,

His "conk's devoid of bark,"
The off-side of his “kissing-trap"
Displays an ugly mark.

-Atkin: House Scraps. Mouse digger (Winchester Col

lege), a small pick-axe used for digging up fossils, &c., in chalk pits.

Mouth-bet (American), when a

man in gambling gives only a verbal promise to pay it is called a mouth-bet. “Then, governor, I see you ten dollars and raise you the whole State of Vermont.”

The game ceased. Mouth-betting was not a success. - Detroit Piree Press. Mouthpiece (thieves), a counsel.

“You come from ‘Brum'(Birmingham), don't yer?”

“Yes; I have got seven 'stretch' for a 'burst.""

“Had you a mouthpiece?” “No, I pleaded guilty. I expected to get off with a 'sixer.'”

“What did you get ?”

“Seven stretch and supervision.”— Evening News. Mouth, to have a (popular), to

feel the effects of drinking alcohol; an abbreviation for having a dry mouth. One of the most general effects in the morning of taking too much alcohol overnight; another expression for this is, having “hot coppers” or “the coppers.” This produces a burning thirst, for which a “brandy and soda" or a “Hock and soda-water,”

are the most approved remedies. Move (common), a cunning trick

or device; up to a move or two, cunning, experienced.

Mousetrap (turf), a sovereign.

From the resemblance of the crown and shield to a set trap. “No hunter in England can clear that water," replies the earl. “It's even betting-it's five to two on him-it's a monkey to a mousetrap!” rejoins the excited girl. “Don't be so slangy, Julia,” remonstrates her father. “Papa, the mousetrap's mine.”—Daily Paper.

(Old cant), marriage. Mouth (old cant), an ignorant

person, a dupe, one that gapes with mouth wide open ready to swallow anything. In French gobe-mouches. One shall lead a horse about, and another shall look for a mouth that has a horse to sell or change.-The Discoveries of John Poulter.

Mow-beater (old cant), a drover.

Mower (old cant), an ox, cow. Mozzy (Punch and Judy), Judy.

Punch being known as “Swat

chell." M's and w's (printers). A man

in a drunken state walking

Mouth-almighty (popular), a very

talkative, noisy person.

M. T.-Mud-lark.

67

through the streets would be
said to be making m’s and w's,
owing to his uncertain and zig-
zag gait, likened to the shape

of these particular letters.
M. T. (railway), an empty car-

riage.
Muchee (pidgin-English), much,

very; intensified as muchee

muchee.
My catch one spirit tell my all, but he can

no be heard,
Some notha spilit hab got heah—he no can

talkee word,
They makee muchee bobbely—too muchee

clowd aloun',
They wantchee muchee bad one time to
chin-chin Captin Bloun.

-The Ballad of Captain Brown.
“Massa he muchee-goody, Mississee she
too-muchee goody-yunki Missee (young
Miss) she too muchee-muchee goody galaw
-she givee my one dolla' cumshaw fo'

time."

rain and mud. Possibly a play

on macintosh. Muck-out, to (gambling), to clean

out. Mucked-out, ruined. The more modern synonym is “stony

broke.” Vide MUCKER. Mucks, mux, to (American), to

disarrange, discompose, to make amuddle or a failure of anything. “He made a regular mux of the whole business.” “Don't mux my collar!” Provincial English

mucksen, to dirty. Muck-snipe (gamblers), one who

has been cleaned out. Muck, to (popular), to beat, to

excel. Muck train (army), an obsolete

term for commissariat. Mud crusher (military), name

given to infantry men. In

French pousse-caillou.
Mudding-face (popular), equi-

valent to muffin-face, or stupid.

A muff.
She oped the lattice, and I saw that form

of queenly grace,
And heard her very softly say, “Good-
night, old mudding-face!"
-Ballad : She was True to Some-

body Else.
Muddler (turf), a clumsy horse,

one who gets in a “muddle.”
Mr. — who had the offer of the
mount, declined it, thinking the horse was
too much of a muddler to have any chance.
-Bird o' Freedom.
Mud-hook (nautical), an anchor.
Mud-lark, a phrase applied to

those who wade or paddle in the

Muck (old cant), money.
Mucker (army), a term for com-

missariat officer, nearly obsolete.
(Common), to go a mucker, to
fail, to come to grief.
To go a fearful mucker . . . bad dash at
anything and fails, whether he is thrown
from his horse when taking a leap, or
making “confusion worse confounded” of
his college examination.-C. Bede: Notes
and Queries.

From muck, dirt. It has been suggested that it comes from

"run amuck.” Muck forks (common), a low term

for the hands or fingers. “Keep

your much forks off me.” Mucking-togs (popular), clothes

worn when mucking about in

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Give 'em a soaking wet day, with the mud
over their naked toes.-J. Greenwood :
ov
Low Life Deeps.

Except for professional mud-plungers, beggars whose harvest-time is when they "can wade in the middle of the road, and in the pouring rain, with an agonising display of saturated rags, and mire-soddened naked feet-wet weather is unfavourable. -J. Greenwood: In Strange Company.

slush left on the shores of tidal rivers that run through great rivers that run through creat towns, in search of articles of little but still of some mercantile value, brought down by the drains and common sewers. The word is metaphorical, de rived from the flocks of birds that sometimes come down to the shore on a similar errand in search of nutriment, and the fragments of waste food that sometimes reward them. A conveyer; other meaning explained by quotation. He . . . became what is called a mud. lark; that is, a plunderer of the ships' cargoes that unload in the Thames.-Mrs. Edgeworth: Lame Jervas. Mud-major (army), an infantry major, one not mounted, who commands a company on foot, on parade. The term dates from the recent addition made to the number of majors in an infantry battalion, which was

increased from two to four. Mud-pickers (garrison towns),

garrison military police. Mud pipes (popular), any kind of boots or shoes, but more spe

u more specially applied to riding-boots or

gaiters. Mud player (cricketers), one who

plays best when the ground is soft.

Mud-salad market (common),

Covent Garden Market, so called from its filthy condition when vegetable refuse and slush prevail.

Mud-salad Market again. Not content with drawing a princely income from his toll on London's food supply, the Duke of Bedford actually refuses to pay sweeping-up of the thoroughfares, rendered necessary by their use as a part of “his” market.— The Star. Mud-student, a farming pupil.

The name given to the students at the Agricultural College,

Cirencester. Muffin (Canadian), explained by

quotation. In reference to muffins lying warm and close.

If any young lady, not previously engaged, of course, found favour in your sight, you were at liberty then and there to constitute her your muffin, which, being interpreted, signified that by entering into such an arrangement, you might walk, ride, or drive tête-à-tête with her; that you had the entrée of her parents' house, those parents at the same time keeping obligingly in the background; that at balls, no ill-natured remarks were made by even the most virulent old maids when you danced every dance together, .. the usual English winding up of such an extensive flirtation was by no means a necessity.-Once a week.

Mud plunger (streets), explained

by quotations.

That rascal and his wife are streetsingers and cadgers of the sort known as mud-plungers. Fine weather don't suit them; they can't come out strong enough.

Muffin-cap (popular), a flat cap

similar to those of charity-boys.

Muffin—Mug

Muffin face. Vide MUDDING FACE.
Muffin-worry, an old lady's tea-

party (Hotten).
Mufflers (pugilistic), the old ver-
nacular for boxing-gloves, the
“mittens.” They are supposed
to have been invented by Jack
Broughton. The Daily Adver-
tiser, in February 1747, an-
nounced that “Mr. Broughton
proposed, with proper assist-
ance, to open an academy at
his house in the Haymarket
... and, in order that persons
of quality and distinction might
not be debarred from entering
into a course of those lectures,
they will be given with the ut-
most tenderness and regard to
the delicacy of the frame and
constitution of the pupil; for
which reason mufflers are pro-
vided that will effectually secure
them from the inconvenience of
black eyes, broken jaws, and

bloody noses." Muffling cheat (old cant), a towel. Muff, to (society). To muff a thing is to spoil it, make a mess of it, i.e., to do it like a “muff.” You were muffing your birds awfully.Saturday Review. Mufti, in (common), in civilian's

clothes. Originally Anglo-In-
dian, from a word signifying a
priest. This is now a recognised
term.

Blessings flow
From your bold eyes and brown mous-

tache so tufty;
But why, sweet Benedictine, choose
to go

So much in mufti ?-Punch.

Mug (general), mouth, face.
His mug wore a confident smile, which

some might esteem a bit bounceable : These big 'uns are apt to be cocky, but even a Titan is trounceable.

-Punch. It has been suggested that mug is from the old form munkh or mugh of the gypsy muī or mooe (mouth and face), but it probably originated in an ordinary slang simile. Another suggested derivation is from the Scottish murg, French morgue, a solemn, sour face ; Languedoc murga, a snout. Formerly mugs or jugs were made which exhibited distortions of the human face, but there is no evidence to show that the term mug arose from this circumstance, or vice versâ. Mug, a simpleton, a person easily imposed upon. Also a “jug,” formerly a “mouth.” In French, cruche, bête comme un pot. Any man who is mug enough to take a 100-guinea watch to the Derby, does so at his own risk. - The Globe. It might have been the jug-I know I was

the mug, That's why I seldom talk about it now.

-Sporting Times. That man must be a maudlin dunce, What wise men term a mug.

-Punch. In turf parlance there is but little difference between the mug and the “juggins,” except that the former is rather the more hopeless case of the two, the “juggins” being almost invariably a neophyte who may in time develop into a sharp, or, at any rate, into a being rea

sonably able to take care of himself on the turf; while the true mug seldom, if ever, emerges from mughood. Also a stupid financier who finds money for rotten speculations, and is not infrequently swindled by the knave who has led

him into a fool's paradise. Mugging (Winchester and other

schools), staying and studying

indoors. Vide To Mug. Mugging hall (Winchester Col

lege), the hall where boys “mug,” that is, prepare their lessons and exercises. Vide To

MUG. Muggins (popular), one easily

taken in, a simpleton. Variant of “mug,” as “juggins” of

“jug." Must ha' thought me a muggins, old man, To ask such a question of ’Arry-as though grubbing short was his plan.

-Punch. Muggy (popular), half - intoxi

cated. Vide To Mug, to get

tipsy. Mug - hunter (thieves), one of

a wretched horde (chiefly of women) who infest the streets at night to pick up and rob those who are made foolish

(mugs) by their drunkenness. Mug, mugged (Winchester Col

lege). A thing is said to be mug or mugged when it has a pleasant appearance to the eye, like a bat which has been well mugged, that is, well oiled and polished, entailing much labour. Vide To MUG.

Mugs (American), roughs and

thieves. “See 'em,” said the man at my side; “there's mugs for you-look at 'em.”

“ Mugs?" said I. "What are mugs?"

“Hard characters," said he. “Those are thieves from the First Ward, the fellows that rob immigrants, steal cotton from the bales, go through the trunks that stray down by the riverside, and empty pockets on the ferries and excursion boats.”Philadelphia Press. Mugster (Winchester College),

one who works hard. Vide To

Mug. Mug, to (Winchester College), to

work hard. From early English mog, to sit over in a discontented way, as of a boy sitting over his books. Also to rub oil well into a bat.

In one corner of school some one may be discovered mugging, i.e., oiling his own or prefect's bat.- Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

(Popular and thieves), to strike in the face, to thrash, to swindle, that is, make a fool of one. Vide MUG. To mug oneself, to get tipsy. In this sense it is derivable from mug, a drinking vessel, in the same way as the French gobeloter, to indulge in drink, from gobelet. An ale-house was formerly termed a mug - house. Again, it may be due to a metaphor, as of one in a mug, provincial for mist. Compare with its synonyms, “in a haze," and “foggy,” “ muzzy,” for intoxicated.

(Common), to criticise keenly, to examine in a minute and teasing manner. Possibly from

In seats, p’r’aps, her crew have the pull

o'er their rivals;
But what if the pullers make mulls ?

-Funny Folks.
The public, how he bores or gulls,

This buzzing busy B.,
Starts maudlin' “Leagues," that end in

mulls,
And pure fiddle-de-dee!--Punch.
Mulligrubs (popular), colic. From

provincial English mull, to rub,
squeeze, rub about; and grub.
Peakyish you feel, don't you, now, with
a touch of the mulligrubs in the colly-
wobbles.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Also low spirits.

slang mug for face, in which
case to mug would nearly corre-
spond in one of its applications

with the French dévisager.
Mug up, to (theatrical), to paint

one's face, or dress specially to impersonation. From the slang mug, for face. (Army), to work hard or scram ” for an examination. Vide To MUG. Mugwump (American), explained

by quotation. “Mugwump is an Indian word, and means a captain, or leader, or notable person. From this genuine original meaning it was an easy transition to the signifying a man who thought himself of consequence; and during the last contest for the Presidentship the name had a political meaning attached to it, by its application, in derision, to those members of the Republican party who, rejecting Mr. Blaine, declared that they would vote for his Democratic opponent, Mr. Cleveland, the late President. Such is the explanation, doubtless correct, given by Mr. Brander Matthews of New York. The name is now generally applied to those who profess to study the interests of their country before those of their party” (Cornhill Maga

zine). Mull (common), failure. (Obsolete

English), rubbish; to make a mull of it, to spoil it, to bungle, fail through awkwardness. Vide MULLOCK.

Mullock (mining slang), rubbish.

From obsolete English mull,
dirt, rubbish. Mullock is liter-
ally the moraine, the heaps of
earth and other rubbish accu.
mulated by glaciers; from this
it is applied to the refuse of
mines, the heaps of earthy rub-
bish which remain after crush-
ing, washing, and the other pro-
cesses have been gone through.
It also means type in bad con-
dition, in Australian printers'
slang. The metaphor here is
from the mining refuse.
The Boss had got a set on him .o set
The mullock of the whole establishment.
-The Australian Printers' Keepsake :

The Legend of Lonely Gully.
(Anglo-Indian), a nickname
applied to members of the
Madras Presidency service, as
Bengal people are called “Qui-
his,” and Bombayans, " Ducks.”

It is ane darke Londe, and ther
dwellen ye Cimmerians whereof speketh
Homerus Poeta in his Odesseia, and to
this Daye thei clepen Tenebrosi or ye Be.
nighted ffolke. Bot thei clepen themselves

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mullys (mulls), from Mulligatawnee whch is ane of theyr goddys from whch thei ben ysprong.-Anglo-Indian Glossary : Lately Discovered MS. of Sir John Maundevile. Multee kerteever (coster

mongers), corruption of molto

cattivo, which see.. Mumble mumper (theatrical), an

old, sulky, inarticulate, unin

telligible actor. Mum-glass (common). "A cant

word for the monument in Fish Street, near London Bridge, in commemoration of the dreadful fire in 1666, which consumed the greatest part of the city” (Dyche and Pardon's English

Dictionary). Mummer (theatrical). This term,

which properly signified a mime, buffoon, is now used in the slangy and deprecatory sense of strolling or inferior actor. Stage slang is a thing of art, just as turf slang is. Every one knows what "the ghost walking" means, and there are a dozen and more phrases peculiar to "the" profession in England. Over here the same thing exists among the “cabotins,” which word corresponds exactly with the English mummers.--Bird o' Freedom.

According to the best authori. ties, mummery is described as “low buffoonery” (Nuttall), or, "alow contemptible amusement, buffoonery, farcical show; hypocritical disguise, and parade, to delude vulgar minds” (Ogilvie and Webster).

The mummery of foreign strollers.Fenton.

The same authorities describe a mummer as one who masks him

self, and makes diversion in disguise, literally a “guiser," one of those village bumpkins who from time immemorial have gone from house to house, at Christmas and other festivals, spouting scraps of the old mysteries handed down by oral tradition. A guiser is described by Mitchell as “ a person in disguise, a mummer ;” and by Ogilvie as “a person in disguise, a mummer who goes about at Christmas."

The term mummer is also frequently applied derisively to a certain class of players. The application of the word in this relation is directly to be attributed to the feud between the equestrians and the actors.

About half a century ago certain players from the minor theatres were engaged by Ducrow to act at Astley's in the “Battle of Waterloo," “Mazeppa,” and pieces of a similar character. These gentlemen gave themselves great airs when the equestrians came wotwixt the wind and their nobility," and were regarded by the horse-riders as highly objectionable interlopers. As a natural consequence, when the equestrians were compelled to officiate as supers for the glorification of the vainglorious players, considerable friction occurred, and much ill-blood ensued. The players affected to look down upon the equestrians with contempt, and had the good taste to dub them

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“mountebanks, horse dung, Mum, to (theatrical), to act; and sawdust gentry.” The specially applied to strolling equestrians, nothing loth, re. actors. In the quotation the sponded to the compliment by word is used figuratively. christening the actors “cack A nice stake for Mr. J. A. Craven, for ling coves and — mummers." whom the colt mummed successfully Recently, certain journalists,

again in the Double Trial Plate yesterday. irritated, doubtless, at the social

-Sporting Times.
distinction accorded to eminent Munches (tinker), tobacco.
actors and actresses, have

Munds, muns (thieves), the mouth. sought to degrade them in pub

German, mund. lic estimation by stigmatising

The guests now being met, the entire fraternity, from the

The first thing that was done, sir, highest to the lowest, as mum

Was handing round the kid mers. It is indisputable, that That all might smack his muns, sir. from the time of the master up

-Parker: Variegated Characters. wards there have been so-called Mundungus (popular), trashy, actors, and popular ones too,

coarse tobacco. Spanish monwho are, and have been, neither

dongo, black pudding (Hotten), more nor less than buffoons.

seldom heard. Mumming (old cant), explained Mungarly (hawkers, strolling by quotation.

actors, &c.), explained by quoAt Abingdon fair there was a person

tation. named Smith who was the proprietor of Now, a lot of us chaps propose to a mumming, i.e., a theatrical booth.

assist you to-night, as it's the last one, in Parker: Variegated Characters.

getting you up a rare full house, to help

you and your school to some dinarly and Mummock, mummick (Ameri

mungarly, i.e., money and food.-Hindcan), to handle any object. To ley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. handle or feel the person.

Mungarly casa, a baker's shop “Don't mummick me that-a-way,

or eating-house. Mungarly is Billy, or I'll tell my ma!” From

derived from the Italian manthe Dutch mam, the breast.

giare, to eat. Mumper (popular), a beggar. Mung news (American), news Vide To MUMP.

which has been heard before. Mumpish, to feel (common), to

Now obsolete. In its time it feel dull, miserable, like one

was equivalent to the more who has the mumps.

modern term “chestnut." From

obsolete English mung, past of Mums (old), lips.

ming, to speak of, mention. Why, you jade, you look so rosy this Munlee (pidgin), money. morning I must have a smack at your mums.-Foote : The Minor.

Muogh (tinker), pig. Irish, muck.

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Murerk (tinker and tramps), the

mistress of a house, a lady. Perhaps it has a common origin with Spanish cant marca, a woman; Italian furbeschi mar

cona ; French argot marque. Mush (common slang), an um.

brella. An abbreviation of mushroom, which an umbrella

is supposed to resemble. He'll shelter “Floss” beneath his cape if

she hasn't got a mush,

When the tart is young. -Song: When the Tart is Young. (American), stuff, nonsense, indifferent, uninteresting matter. From provincial English mush, dusty refuse. Great Jee-rusalem! a sweet time he'll have. Just fancy her making him slick up to the music of slow church bells Sunday mornings and marching him off, 'stead of having a good time at the gardens, to a straight-backed pew to listen to Gospel mush !—Cleveland Leader. Mush-head (American), a stupid,

witless fellow. Soft like mush, i.e., rye, or Indian (maize) meal, boiled to a pap with water.

bad character, otherwise laced mutton. In French veau. Muttoner (Winchester College), a

hard knock on the thumb from

a cricket-ball. Mutton - fist (common), a large

hand. The French call it épaule de mouton. (Printers), an index hand () is generally called thus, probably from the fact of its being somewhat fat

and shapeless. Muttongosht (Anglo-Indian), the

common English-Hinduformut

ton, i.e., “mutton-flesh.” Muttons (Stock Exchange), Turks

1873.

Mutton-walk, the saloon at Drury

Lane Theatre (Hotten). Muzz, to (Westminster School),

to read. Muzzler (pugilistic), a blow on

the mouth. Muzzle, to (popular), to get, to

take.

Mushroom - faker, mush - faker

(tinker and popular), umbrellamaker or mender.

Music. Vide FACE THE MUSIC.

quotation. Some, of course, were planning how they could get a bust-up of mutiny (grog) for the occasion.—7'it-Bits. Mutton (common), used in the

phrase "a bit of mutton," a woman. The term is used also in America. Also a woman of

Muzzy (popular), drunk, properly

bewildered.

Lord Frederick Foretop and I were carelessly sliding the Ranelagh Round picking our teeth, after a damned muzzy dinner at Boodle's.- Foote : Lame Lover. Excuse me, you've made a mistake, sir! Not the first one you've made, I sup'

pose. I'm a lady, that's straight, and I'm only

out late 'Cause it's late when the May Meet

ings close. None the less, I'm a bit wideawake, sir

Taking care of one's self's only right

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And you can't make too free with a lady

like me,

Though you are a bit muzzy to-night!

-Sporting Times.

My (pidgin), I, me, mine. Some

times we or ours.

watch," for me. “That is beneship to our watch,” that is very good for us. “The same system,” says Turner, "prevails in the North Country cant at the present day, 'my nabs,' myself; his nabs,' himself.” This word, probably derived from nab (old cant), or nob, meaning head, is in theatrical slang “nibs.” Mo-diele occurs in the following verse (Shelta

or tinker):“ Cosson kailyah corrum me morro sari,

Me gul ogаly ach mir,

Myall (up-country Australian),

one of the wild blacks in the North of Australia. The name Myall is generally applied to those Northern tribes who in physique and ferocity are far more formidable to the white man than the feeble natives of the southern colonies. Many of them probably have a considerable mixture of the Papuan blood, a much more powerful and warlike strain.

The blackfellow now put his feet together and jumped about, imitating the action of a hobbled horse, upon which light at once dawned on the Englishman, who provided the delighted Myall with the articles in question.-A. C. Grant.

It trasha moroch

Me tu soste mo-diéle.”— “ Coming from Galway tired and weary

I met a woman,
I'll go bail that by this time to-morrow
You'll have had enough of me.”

Me tu soste is gypsy.

Mycetal duffer (theatrical), a

“howling” or great duffer, so called after “a genus of the largest-sized monkeys of America, commonly called the howlers, from the loud sounds of their voices” (Nuttall).

Mysteries (popular), sausages; so

called because no one is supposed to know what they are made of. The peelers I scorn and defy, While strings of these mysteries I wave

round my head, And then to the people I cry, “Sassidges, oh, sassidges! Oh, beef and

pork and German ! Little gee-gee, little donkey, newly made

to-day! Sassidges, oh, sassidges ! oh, beef and pork

and German ! Pussy, mi-aow! doggy, bow-wow! and beautiful sassidges, oh!”

-G. Horncastle : Sassidges, oh!

My-deal, correctly mo-diéle, my

self, I, us. In gypsy, my-kokero, myself, is often used for I. and in old canting men said “my

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NAB (old cant), the head, in

modern slang “nob.” Explained
by quotation.

There were particularly two parties, viz., those who wore hats fiercely cocked and those who preferred the nab or trencher hat, with the brim flapping over the eyes. -Fielding: Jonathan Wild. I crown thy nab with a gag of benbouse, And stall thee by the salmon into clowes.

-). Fletcher: The Beggar's Bush.

Scandinavian nabb, beak or bill, once a synonym for face

and head. Nabcheat (old cant). Vide

CHETE Nab-girder (old cant), a bridle. Nab, to (old English), now used

in a slangy sense, properly to
take, seize. In thieves' lingo,
to receive or take in stolen
goods. It is possible that as
the “fences" or receivers were
once generally Jews, the word
in this sense is derived from
the Yiddish nepp. (French
thieves use the word nep for
a rascally Jew, a receiver, or
dealer in sham jewellery.)
Nepp-handel is cheating by hav.
ing false or inferior wares, a
trade or place in which the
goods are all “dickey." Vide

RUST.
Nag drag (thieves), explained by

quotation. Detective-Sergeant Garner, I Division, stated that when the prisoners were removed to the cells, he went into the

passage and heard them calling to one
another. Hill said, “This will be a nag
drag." Mr. Chance: “What is that?”
Witness explained that it was a slang
term for three months' imprisonment.-
Daily Telegraph.
Nag, to (popular), to scold or

reprove, or “keep at” any one
continuously. Nagging implies
annoying or vexing one all the
time, a “following-up” more
than anything else. Probably
from the Swedish nagg, to prick,
i.e., to spur or goad, as in the
gypsy chiv, chivvy.
She's always, nag, nag, nagging,
And keeping up the game,
No matter where we go to,
She always is the same.
- Ballad by G. Horncastle: Are

You Coming.
My mother-in-law has come to stay

For ever.
It's ten to one she goes away

For ever.
She's always on the N.A.G.
And makes a perfect show of me,
I'll chuck her out, I will, you see !

For ever!
-Ballad by C. Williams: For Ever.

Naggy is provincial English for irritable. Na-hop (pidgin), i.e., "no-hab”

or “no have.” This is given as meaning “without,” i.e., “deprived of,” or “wanting,” in the Chinese-English or Pidgin Vocabulary, according to the idea that not to have is (to be) without. “One piecee man nohop dolla' dat man so bad inisy as no-hop lifey "_"He who is

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without money is as miserable

as if he were dead.” Nail-box (printers), the place

where printers would assemble to“ nail” (which see) or“ backbite” any one. Very often re. fers to a neighbouring “pub.”

or other rendezvous. Nailer, nailing (common), terms

expressing excellence in any way; a nailer at football, riding, &c., a nailing shot. It is said of a handsome, clever, or fashionable lady that she is a nailer. At school a nailer is a clever, good student. (Turf), a horse which cannot be shaken off, that keeps pace with his antagonists.

Still, she had some difficulty in getting rid of the attentions of Theodore, who is evidently a nailer when the going is a bit soft.-Sporting Times. Nailing good thing (popular), a

thing which is good and durable.

The Commander-in-chief inspected Ducker's portable hospital hut. . . . It is a nailing good thing, with ne'er a nail in it, nor even a loose screw.-The Sun. day Times. Nail, to (common), to take, seize,

detect. (Thieves), to arrest, catch in the act, steal. "I see," said Mouldy, sagaciously nodding his head. “What was it that you nailed?" “Nailed ?"

“Ay, prigged, don't you know? Did they ketch it on you, or did you get clean off with it?”—The Little Ragamuffins.

(Winchester College), to detect, perceive, catch, secure. “To nail a man” is to go and

tell him to “sweat” or fag for some prefect; also to “watch out” or field at cricket, and to keep in balls at football, that is, to throw the ball back when it goes beyond a certain line. The nail is a nail planted in the middle of the wainscoting under “aut disce” in “school,” under which any one nailed or detected telling a falsehood was placed for punishment. (Printers), to nail or “brass nail” any one is to “backbite." “No nail” would be an expression of apology, or “I am sorry,

but it is true.” Namo (costermongers), girl; back

slang for woman. Nammus (thieves and costermongers), look out, beware. “If a stranger should advance, the cry is given, nammus,” and all signs of gambling are out of sight instanter. Also be off, let us be off. Said to be a corruption of Spanish vamos, let us be off, which has given vamose, which see. "Done!" said Aaron, and each held up their hands in fighting attitude, when, after sparring a bit for an opening, and not fancying the fellow, Aaron suddenly exclaimed nammus, thereby meaning, cut, run, take care of yourselves.-Hindley. Nancy (military), the behind. Nancy Dawson (popular), a

name for a molly, an effeminate
youth, apathetic, &c. A recent
sketch of the characteristics
of the mashers of the pre-
sent day, which appeared in
a leading magazine, represents

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two of the fraternity, who are very intimate, as always calling one another by girls'

names. I'll tell you of a fellow who's a very heavy

swell, Who fancies he's the idol of each fashion

able belle,
And they call him Nancy Dawson,

And isn't he a caution!
Oh, Mr. Nancy Dawson, what a tricky

man you are ! Oh, Nancy Dawson, can't you do the la-di-dar?

-Ballad: Nancy Dawson. The original Nancy Dawson was a noted prostitute, on whom there is a song still current among sailors. Proverbially a finicky, effeminate man is called a Miss Nancy.

Napkin (common), a nap. “To

be buried in a napkin,” to be half asleep, not to have one's

wits fully about one. Non nix (theatricall one who

plays for nothing. Nap, to

take, receive; and nix, nothing. Nap, nob, or nopper, the head.

“One for his nob or nopper," pugilistic slang for a blow on the head. Nappy was a once favourite epithet for strong ale, equivalent to the French capiteux, heady, affecting the head from below. Derived apparently

Nanny (common), a prostitute,

Probably from nun, meaning

the same. Vide ABBESS. Nanny shop (common), a brothel. Nantee, nanty (showmen, itine.

rant actors, &c.), no, not any. Also be quiet, hold your tongue; from Italian niente, nothing. Nanty dinarly, no money, poor

receipts, doing badly. Nanty parnarly (low), used in

Clerkenwell, King's Cross, and Leicester Square, and where there are a number of English men and foreigners. If two men are talking confidentially and a third joins them who is not desired to overhear their conversation, one will say to the other nanty parnarly, meaning be careful. This is a corruption of the Italian niente parlare.

tuberance; German knorpe, a
button, a swelling, a bud be-
fore its expansion into a flower.
A picturesque mountain in the
vale of Grasmere in Westmore-
land is named Nab Scaur (nab,
rising ground), and is more
than once mentioned in Words-
worth's poems. Burns uses the
word in his admirable poem of
“Tam o' Shanter."
" Sit bouzing at the nappy,

An' gettin' fu' an' unco happy." Nap one's bib, to (popular), to

cry, i.e., to catch up one's bib. Nap the regulars, to (thieves), to

share the booty. Vide To NAP. And ve vent and fenced the swag that wery night, and afterwards napped the regulars.-Lytton: Paul Clifford. Nap the slap. Vide KNAP THE

SLAP.

Nap the teaze, to (prison), to be

whipped. From tees or T's, the iron holdfasts to which

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criminals are tied when whip-
ped in prison. From the shape
of a T. Vide To NAP.

Nap, to (popular), to catch, re

ceive. Napp, Danish, Swedish,
to catch, snap, bite, &c.
While to another he would mention as
a fact not to be disputed, “You napp'd it
heavily on your whisker-bed, didn't you?"
-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

Also to steal. To go nap, to
take, sweep the whole. Pro-

bably from the game of nap.
Men raise bubble companies others to trap,
And when they're bowled out in it, don't

care a rap.
But what is the reason ? well, you can go

nap.
It pays them much better than work !

-Music Hall Song.

Nash, to (old cant), to run away,

default. Gypsy, nasher, to run away, to lose, hang, forget, spoil, injure, in all their variations ; nashered, nasherdo, hanged on the gallows, executed, utterly ruined; mandy nashered lis avrī my sherro, I forgot it (lost it out of my head); tiro wongurs sār nasherd avrī, your money is all spent. Hence nass ! away! Nashermengro, policeman. Hindu, násána, to destroy; nash, destruction.

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Nark, or copper's nark (thieves),

a man or woman who is a police spy upon his comrades or class. He had a nark with him, so I went and looked for my two pals, and told them to look out for S. and his nark.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

This seems to have some connection with the Dutch narruken, to follow about, spy, and narrecht, information. German, nachrichten.

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Nazie (old cant), drunken; nazie

cove, a drunken man; nazie mort
a drunken woman. From the
German nass, wet. The English
lower classes use “wet” in the
sense of drink, as in the well-
known phrase “heavy wet" for
porter or beer. “Wet the other
eye,” take another drink. “Wet
the whistle,” drink, or moisten
the throat. “Wet Quaker,” one
who drinks on the sly. To make
nase nabes, literally to make the
head drunk.
Now I towr that ben bouse makes nase
nabes.-Harman : Caveat.

Nark, to (thieves), to watch, ob

serve, look after or into closely.
Vide NARK.

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Narrow squeak (common), just

escaping or avoiding anything
by the merest chance.

“Not exactly in danger," murmured
Gommy, “but once, if I had not been
possessed of great presence of mind, I
might have had a narrow squeak for it."
-Sporting Times.

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mean a wedding, a beer-drinking bout, a quarrel, a trial at law, or a hanging.-G. A. Sala : Illustrated London News. Neap, nip (Suffolk), a turnip, is

commonly used to denote a big

watch. In French slang oignon. Neat, spirits without water, &c.

Liquor or spirit unmixed is “plain, straight, bald-face, reverend, pure, out of the barrel, bare-footed, naked, stark-naked, primitive, raw, in the state of nature, in puris naturalibus, unsophisticated, without a shirt, ah, don't mingle, aboriginal, unalloyed, untempered, coldwithout, neat as imported, or neat, simples e munditiis, uncorrupted, unmarried, virgin, and clean from the still.” Stonefence is a drink of whisky plain, a raw recruit is a glass

of spirits without water. Neckcloth (common), the halter. For the neckcloth I don't care a button,

And by this time to-morrow you'll see Your Larry will be as dead as mutton.

-Burrowes : The Death of Socrates. Neck, to (popular), to swallow;

neck-oil, drink. Not to be able to neck it, not to have the moral

courage to do or ask. Neck-verse, chap. li. ver. 7 of

the Psalms in the Vulgate, com.
mencing miserere mei domine.
The test of clerkship in those
claiming benefit of clergy. The
record was indorsed in such
cases : “Po. se. cul. pet. lib.
leg. u. cler. u. i. m. delib. or.”—
“Posset se (super patriam) cul.
pabilis petit librum legit ut

clericus ustus in manu deliberatus ordinario." Puts himself on the country, asks for the book, reads like a clerk, is branded on the hand, and delivered over to the bishop; in later times, deliberatur secundum statutum. Such were branded with a hot iron on the brawn of the left hand. Ben Jonson escaped in this way. Sometimes it ran cog. indict., &c., pleads guilty, &c.

The record of Ben Jonson's conviction for killing Gabriel Spencer in a duel in Toggeston Fields, has been found by Mr. Cordy Jeaffreson, whence it appears he saved his neck by these means :Letter or line I know never a one Wer't my neck-verse at Harribee.

-Scott: Lay of the Last Minstrel. The judge will read thy neck-verse for thee here.—Clobery Div. Glimpses, 1659. Neddy (thieves and popular), a

life-preserver or loaded cane whereby life may be taken. A

donkey. Needful, the (common), money.

Was ordered to pay a fine and costs. ... Not having the needful, Pat went into retirement at the expense of the country. -Scraps. Needle, the (general), vexation,

stinging annoyance. And it gives a man the needle when he

hasn't got a bob, To see his pals come round and wish him joy.

-Song: You should never Marry. (Turf), “ to get the needle," or “cop the needle,” is to be so goaded by “the slings and

Needle—Newgate.

civilisation. “The never, never country means in Queensland the occupied pastoral country which is furthest removed from the more settled districts” (J. S. O'Halloran, Secretary Royal Colonial Institute).

There is no such thing as an “Australian cow-boy." There is as much difference between the real never, never stock. man and the Earl's Court article as there is between the real shell-back of the forecastle or the British tar in “Ruddigore." -Globe.

arrows of outrageous fortune”
that the bettor loses his self-
control and “plunges” wildly to
recover his money. (Athletics),
to get the needle is to feel very

nervous and funky.
Needle, to (common), to annoy.
Needy-mizzler (tinker), a tramp.
Negotiate, a modern slang ex-

pression often employed by
sportsmen and the writers who
chronicle their achievements to
signify any attempt to surmount
the difficulties they may meet
with in the hunting-field.

They aspire to negotiate awkward fences.—Bird o' Freedom. Neither buff nor bum (popular),

neither one thing nor the other. Nerve (Eton), impudence. Nestor (Winchester College), a boy

small for his age.
Netgen (coster), half a sovereign;

from back slang for ten, and
gen, a shilling

Never too late to mend shop

(tailors). Vide HAND ME DOWN PLACE.

Never hit the use (pidgin English

Chinese). 'M. Chung-yung not hit the use, i.e., was idle, useless,

or all in vain. One night Wang-ti go walkee-he feel like

lonely goose, How all he study 'M. Chung-yung-he

neva hit the use. How some man pass an' catch deglee while

he stick fass' behind, Like one big piecee lock while waves fly pass' him on the wind.

-Wang-ti. Never, never country, the (Australian), the Ultima Thule of VOL. II.

New-bug (Marlborough College),

a contemptuous term to signify

a new boy. New chum (Australian), a new

comer, a fresh arrival in the country. More than once on the road, meeting these fellows tramping along, my driver or companion has recognised them as new chums by the cut of their pack.-C. T.: Blackwood's Magazine.

This expression is simply the English “chum” with a "new" prefixed to it. It is often used

rather contemptuously. Newgate fringe (thieves), collar

of beard worn under the chin. Newgate hornpipe (common),

hanging.
And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing
A Newgate hornpipe some fine day.

-W. Maginn : Vidocq's Slang Song.
Newgate knocker (coster-

mongers), the mode of wear-
ing the hair curled in the shape

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Nib-like (thieves and costermongers), gentlemanly. Vide NOBBY.

Nibs. Vide His NIBS.

of the figure 6 over the ears.

In vogue about 1840 to 1850. Newgate-ring (popular), mous

tache and lower beard worn as one, the side whiskers being

shaved off. Newy (Winchester College), a

“cad," that is, a fellow who was paid to take care of the canvas tent in "commoner” or

school field. N. F. (printers). This term is

very largely used by printers in abbreviation of the words “no fly,” to indicate an artful companion-one who is only cognisant of what suits him, and feigns ignorance of matters that

apply to him. Nib (American thieves), the

mouth. Nib or neb is old English for mouth, snout, beak. AngloSaxon nebb, head, face. Icelandic nebbi, beak of a bird, nose. Swedish snabel, beak. Probably the origin of “his nibs,” self, face, and mouth, being synonymous. In French cant mon gniasse, son gniasse, &c., mean myself, &c., and seem to be abbreviated from ma tignasse, my hair, that is, head. (Printers), an expression generally applied to indicate a silly person, other

wise a “mouth,” which see. Nibbler (popular), a petty thief. Nibble, to (popular), to take or

steal.
Nibble, to have a (tailors), to

have the best of the bargain, or
an easy, well-paid job.

Nickers, wild young fellows or mohawks who, in the eighteenth century, when the watch of London was composed of old and feeble men, amused themselves by traversing the streets howl

ing and shouting. Nick, to (thieves), to steal. “He

that nicks and runs away will live to nick another day,” inscribed in a prison cell.

That there cove wot you're a-speaking of ... what had he been nicking ?--J. Greenwood : Dick Temple.

Originated from nick, to cut, i.e., cutting away pockets. Also to apprehend, arrest.

“Well, ‘Jones,' I see you are Robinson this time. What have you got?”.

“Ten stretch and my ticket."

“What did you get nicked for this time?”

“Me and my pal were buckled by the - coppers as were going to the fence with the — swag.” – Evening News. Nigger spit (popular), the lumps

in Demerara sugar. Nightshade (popular), or deadly

nightshade, a shameless prostitute of the very lowest class.

Nimmer (thieves), thief.
Nimshod (popular), a cat. The

allusion is obvious.
Nim, to (thieves), to steal; old

English slang nim, to take ;

Ninepence— Nix.

same root as the German neh-
men. Anglo-Saxon niman.

Nip-cheese (nautical), purser's

steward. Also a miser.

Ninepence, right as (popular),
means perfectly correct, appa-
rently a corruption from “right
as ninepins,” which are care-
fully set up in proper rhomboidal

disposition (A. Smythe Palmer).
Nine shillings (colloquialism),

cool audacity. Said to be from French nonchalance, but it must be noted that nine, one of the mystical numbers (three, trinity, represents a perfect unity, twice three is the perfect dual, and thrice three is the perfect plural), occurs in many phrases as indicating an exhaustive plural, perfection or completion, as a nine days' wonder, nine tailors make a man, dressed up to the

nines, &c. Ning - nang (horse - coupers), a

worthless thoroughbred. Nip (old cant), a pickpocket.

One of them is a nip. I took him in
the twopenny gallery at the Fortune.
Roaring Girl.
Nip and tuck (Cornwall), a close

contest. An old term in wres-
tling. Nip, to seize, and tuck, to
chuck or throw.
Speaking of bust-ups, it appears to be
nip and tuck between Ed. Wolcott, Scott
Lee, and the Cincinnati banks. As the
score stands now it is a dead tie.-The
Solid Muldoon, Otway, Colorado.

Also “nip and go tuck.” I've had a terribul fit of the ager since I writ yer last, and one time I thought it was about nip and go tuck wether the ager or natur wud whip.-Major Jack Downing.

Nipper (popular), a baby, a

child. Also a small draught. One who goes in for sharp practice. The metaphor is in nipping, grasping or squeezing a man more than the bargain purports. “Like enough,” returned Stone. “That accounts why he has the credit of being such a nipper.”—A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland.

Also a pickpocket; formerly a cut-purse. (Marlborough College), a little cad. (Costermonger), the youngest of lads employed by costermongers. (Popular and thieves), explained by quotation. “Dowse the glim! here come the nippers."

That a nipper was a policeman, I well knew.- The Little Ragamuffins. Nip, to (old cant), to take, seize,

steal, apprehend.
Meanwhile the cut-purse in the throng,
Hath a fair means to nyp a bung.

Poor Robin, 1740.
If we niggle or mill a bousing ken,
Or nip a bung that has but a win,
Or dup the giger of a gentry cofe's ken,
To the quier cuffing we bing.
-T. Dekker: Lanthorne and Candle-

light.

Nix or nicks (thieves), nothing.

The German nichts.
In a bright check suit with staring squares,

And a "topper" of striking grey,
The magsman fly to the course repairs

In quest of “mugs” as prey.
In his “exes” being nil our friend confides,
His “brief” he snatches and for nix he
rides.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Nix—Nobbler.

No battle (printers), no good;

not worth while.

Nobba saltee (costermongers),

ninepence. From nove soldi.

Nobber, nobbler (pugilistic), a

blow on the “nob” or head.

It won't do, I say, to stand here for nicks.--Parker: Variegated Characters.

Used by French thieves. Spanish cant nexo ; Italian niba, niberta. Nix my dolly thieves), never mind. Nix my dolly, pals, fake away!

-Ainsworth : Rookwood. Niz priz (legal), a writ of nisi

prius. Nizzie (old cant), a fool. Nob (common), the head, origin

ally pugilistic. From knob or nub, the nape of the neck. The coachman he not likin' the job Set off at a full gal-lop, But Dick put a couple of balls in his nob And prevailed on him to stop.

- Romance from Pickwick Papers. I went jest for a lark, nothink else, and

wos quietly slinging my 'ook, Wen a bit of a rush came around me, a

truncheon dropped smack on my nob, And 'ere I ham, tucked up in bed, with a jug of 'ot spruce on the 'ob.

-Punch. To scuttle your nob, to break your head. Soon I'll give you to know, you d d

thief,
That you're cracking your jokes out of

season,
And scuttle your nob with my fist.

-Burrowes : The Death of Socrates.

A great swell, a man of high position. Abbreviated from great nob (nob, head). In Parisian

popular slang grosse tête.
I came to London-p’rhaps I'd better say

how I begun,
For no nabob was half such a nob.
As the Shallaba'lah Ma'rajah.

-Punch. Vide ONE FOR HIS NOB.

Nobbet, nobbing, to collect, or

collecting money. “A term much used by buskers,” says Hotten.

Naubat, in the language of the Hindu Nāts, or musical gypsies, signifies, time, tune, and instruments of music sounding at the gate of a great man at certain intervals. Nobbet, which is a gypsy word, well known to all itinerant negro minstrels or tavern singers, means to go about with music, to get money, or to take it in turn. It is manifestly enough of Indian origin. “To nobbet round," means to go about by turns to collect.

Nobbing slum (showmen), the bag

for collecting money. This is specially used by Punch and Judy men.

Nobbler, thus described by Hind

ley :-“In my young days there used to travel about in gangs, like men of business, a lot of people called nobblers, who used to work the thimble and pea rig, and go 'buzzing,' that is, picking pockets, assisted by some small boys. These men travelled to markets, fairs, and races, and dressed for the most part

Nobbler -Nommus.

like country farmers, in brown top-boots, &c. The race of nobblers is now nearly extinct, as the old ones have died out, and the younger hands have either turned betting-men or burglars.” (Australian), a glass of spirits, literally that nobbles, i.e., throttles, kills you.

The other proceeded in the most correct bush style. Every now and then uttering a wild cry, and dashing his spurs into his nag's sides, he would fly along at his topmost speed, only to pull up again at the nearest public-house, to the verandah of which his horse's bridle was hung until he had imbibed a nobbler or two. - A. C. Grant : Bush Life in Queensland.

(Rodfishers), the nobbler, the gaff, i.e., that which gives the finishing blow, that kills. Then after one alarming flurry on the top of the water, my left hand slips the landing-net under him, and his final struggles are shortly ended with a single tap of the nobbler.-Sir Harry Pottinger: Trout Fishing.

Also to throttle, kill. There's a fiver in the puss, and nine good quid. Have it. Nobble him, lads, and share it betwixt you.-). Greenwood : Dick Temple. Nobby, nobbish (popular and

thieves), fine, stylish; derivable from nob, great nob, which see.

Yah, pitch us over yer red slang! Take orf that ere nobby coat !-Punch.

“Look here, mate," said another, “they've reformed all that now. The old Jew in Dudley Street has got the sack. You know it ain't a year since I 'chucked up' and I got my duds at the society in Charing Cross, and a real nobby suit they were until a shower of rain came on and then you should have seen what a scarecrow I looked."-Evening News. Nob thatch (popular), the hair. Nob thatcher (popular), a peruke

maker.. Noddle (popular), the head.

Probably from nod. Used by
Shakspeare. Vide " Taming of

the Shrew," act i. scene 1. Doubt not, her care should be To combe your noddle with a three-legg'd

stool. Noffgurs (London), prostitutes.

Wrong 'uns at the “Wateries,"
Nofigurs at the Troc,
Schiksas at the Umperies,
Pastry in a frock.
Parties fines at Purfleet,
Petites in the “Square,"
Coryphées by Kettner,
Tartlets anywhere.

-Bird of Freedom.
No flies. Vide FLIES.
No kid. Vide Kıb.
Nommus or namous (coster-

mongers), be off.

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No moss (tailors), no ill-feeling In reference to Yorkshiremen or animosity.

and Scotchmen. The French

say of a person who is conNo name, no pull (tailors), signi

fused, perplexed, “il a perdu fies if names are not mentioned

le nord.” there can be no libel, or if I do not mention his name he can Nose (thieves), a spy or detective, not take offence, unless he likes

1.e., one with his nose on the to apply the remarks to him scent like a bloodhound. self.

How would they know that there wasn't

a nose—that is, a detective p'lecemanNonsense (Eton School).

there in disguise.-J. Greenwood: Dick The present Provost of King's, then Temple. Lower Master at Eton, on reading over the names of boys who had gained their Nose-bag (waiters), a visitor at a remove, I remember, quite impressed us house of refreshment who carwith his regal position when he announced

ries his own victuals. that King-Harman was monarch of Nonsense. All, old Etonians will remember

Nosender (popular), a blow on the that Nonsense was a small division of the third form.Standard.

nose. Originally pugilistic. Noodle (common), simpleton.

“You see, sir,” said the Pet, “I ain't

used to the feel of it, and I couldn't go The chuckling grin of noodles.-Sydney : to business properly, or give a straight Smith.

nosender, nohow."-C. Bede: Verdant In society a foolish man is

Green. called noodles. Noodle is pro- Noser (popular), a blow on the bably from“nod,"like"noddle"

nose. and “noddy,” because a person

It was a noser, and no mistake about it, who constantly nods to assent

and the ruby spurted in all directions.is looked upon as being foolish. Hindley : Life and Adventures of a

Cheap Jack. Noras (Stock Exchange), Great

Northern Railway Def. Ord. Nose, to (thieves), to give inforStock.

mation to the police, to turn

approver, to watch. No repairs (common), said of a

set-to or struggle, where the Nose warmer (common), a very parties rush heedlessly into the short black pipe. In French fray ; neck or nought.

brule-gueule. Norping (theatrical), quoting pa- Noter (Harrow School), a note

thetic, thrilling phrases that book.
will“ fetch" the gallery; termed
alsu "piling it up.”

Not for Joe, or Joseph, used to

intimate that one does not in North (common), too far north for tend or care to do, or have

me, too clever, knows too much. anything requested.

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Not half bad, an expression of

approval.

Joking apart, “l'Ainé” is not half abad piece.-Punch.

The French say similarly of a man, “il n'est pas la moitié d'un sot," meaning he is no fool.

the time being. From a racing phrase; horses not placed in a race, that is, which are neither first, second, nor third, are said to be nowhere.

The brave panther when he has once crossed the threshold of that splendid damsel (who, by the way, is a thief, and addicted to drinking brandy by the “ bumper ") is, vulgarly speaking, nowhere.-). Greenwood : Seven Curses of London. Nozzle the bottoms, to tailors),

to shrink the front of trousers. Also to pawn them.

Notions (Winchester College),

words, phrases peculiar to the “men” of Winchester College.

Not much of a shower (Ameri

can), a popular phrase, used whenever a political opponent or “any other man” makes light of a great defeat.

Not much of a shower.-With all their efforts, and with many political circumstances in their favour, the Republicans have been unable to create a reaction of any consequence whatever. — Richmond Whig.

It is said that while Noah was building his ark a certain man used to visit him daily and laugh at his “fad" of constructing such a boat. But when the rain began, and the flood rose till the scoffer's chin was just above water-level, his tone changed, and he humbly entreated to be taken on board. To this Noah would in nowise assent, when the man, turning his back indignantly, walked off exclaiming, “Go to thunder with your old ark. I don't believe there's going to be much of a shower !"

Nubbing chit (old), the gallows. When he came to the nubbing chit, He was tucked up so neat and so pretty. -R. Burrowes : The Death of

Socrates. Nub, to (thieves), to hang; from

nub, the nape of the neck. All the comfort I shall have when you are nubbed is that I gave you good advice. -Fielding: Jonathan Wild. Nuff (soldiers), to have one's

nuff, means to have had more drink than is good for one, i.e.,

enough. Nursery (turf), a race for two

year-olds only, and almost al. ways a handicap. (Billiards), when all three balls are close together, and the player, by cannoning, scores several times without materially altering the position of the balls, these scores are termed a “nursery of can

nons.”

Nowhere (common), to be no

where, to be in a state of utter (comparatively speaking) inferiority or insignificancy for

In this latter run the balls touched when he had made 42, but he soon got them together after they had been spotted, and made a run of 23 nursery cannons.-Evening IT&ws.

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Nutted (popular), deceived by a

person who professed to be “nuts on you." I ain't nuts on sweaters myself,

And I do 'ate a blood-sucking screw, Who sponges and never stands Sam, And whose motto's “ all cop, and no blue.” .

-Punch.

Nurse, to (billiards). Vide NUR

SERY. (Omnibus people), to nurse an omnibus, to try and run it off the road. This is done by sending a rival omnibus close behind, or two omnibuses are placed, one before, the other behind an opposition omnibus to prevent it picking up any

passengers. Nut (general), head. Noisette

(nut), for head, occurs in the French slang phrase "avoir un asticot dans la noisette,” to be off one's nut, i.e., crazy. Chaucer has not-hed, a head

like a nut. A not-hed hadde he, with a broune visage.

-Canterbury Tales. Nut-cracker (popular), sharp blow

over the head. Nuts on (popular), partial to, very

fond of.

From the phrase "that's nuts to one,” i.e., a great treat, a thing one is partial to. Nut has here the sense of a dainty morsel, from nut, a sweetbread, or the lump of fat called the Pope's eye; the nut of a leg of mutton (noix in French, same meaning, hence la noix, the best part, dainty morsel).

Nutty (old), nice.
Who on a lark with black-eyed Sal (his

blowing), So prime, so swell, so nutty, and so knowing.

-Byron : Don Juan.

O (printers), abbreviation for word “overseer.” Generally used as a note of warning on

his approach. Oak (University). An undergra

duate's rooms at college are enclosed by double doors. The outer one is called his oak, being made of extra strength to meet the rough usage usually in store for it. A man is said to “sport his oak” when he locks his outer door. The expression has become common for to be “not at home" to visitors.

Oar (nautical), “to shove in an

oar,” to intermeddle, or give an

opinion unasked. Oat (popular), used in the phrase

“I never got an oat of it,” I never got an atom of it. From the small size of an oat. Compare with the French "n'y voir goutte ;” “point,” not at all, from punctum; the old mie, same meaning, from mica, a crumb; and the Latin ne-hilum, which became nihil, nothing, from hilum, a black dot in a bean.

Oats—Off.

Oats (American), “to feel his

oats,” to be lively and full of
spirits. An expression taken
from the stables. When a
horse is well fed and in good

condition, he feels his oats.
Oat stealer (popular), an ostler.
Ob (Winchester College), for obit.
Obfuscated (common), drunk.

She is scarcely for a moment off the stage, and she appears in half a dozen different disguises ; she climbs up a lad. der; she gets obfuscated by drinking a bottle of liqueur.-Daily Telegraph. Observationist (thieves), one who

looks out tempting objects for
the skilful thief to steal, &c.

Generally pedlars, hawkers, &c.
Ochives (old cant), bone-handled

knives. Ochiv, the knife, in

gypsy.
Ochre (roughs), money. From

the colour of gold.
Sport your ochre like a man,
I'm the cove that keeps the tater can.

--Old Song O'clock (popular and thieves), to

“know what's o'clock,” to be wide awake. Synonymous with “up to the time of day.” Our governor's wide awake, he is. I'll never say nothin' agin him, nor no man; but he knows what's o'clock, he does, uncommon.-Charles Dickens : Sketches. October (pugilistic), jocular for

blood, being short for October ale, the body being the beerbarrel. While to another he would mention as an interesting item of news, “Now we'll tap your best October.”—C. Bede: Verdant

Oddment (printing), said of a

book that ends on an odd leaf. (Linen - drapers), short pieces left from rolls of stuff,

linen, cloth, &c. Odds (turf), an imaginary scale

of arithmetical chance, arbitrarily fixed by the bookmakers in respect of the prospects of any horse winning any future event on which their customers may wish to bet. (Common), “what's the odds," what is the consequence; "it's no odds,” it's

of no consequence. Odno (roughs and thieves), back

slang for no do. Riding on the
odno, travelling in a railway
train without paying the fare.

Vide DUCK.
Off colour (society), out of health,

out of form, not oneself, un-
able to do things as well as
usual. Alluding to a pale face,
or a phrase borrowed from the
lapidary, who speaks of dia-
monds as being off colour.
When a man has not slept a wink for
over a week it is not remarkable that he
should look a little off colour, but when
a constant and not-to-be-escaped brain
jangle is added to insomnia, as was the
case with the famous Q.C., great ravages
are worked at the double. - The World.

The arbitrator listened to both sides separately, and soon found that each was a bit off colour. Said Billy to the German Sheenie, “You know you cannot show a clean bill of health."-Sporting Times.

Mr. — struck me as a bit off colour in his acting on that particular evening. It was, however, an anxious time, no doubt. -Fun.

(Printers), a term frequently used by pressmen when they

Green.

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I've a chap on the book now for a hundred and twenty who's gone clean off his onion betting.-Sporting Times. Off his own bat (common), by

his own exertions; same as on

his own hook. Off his saucer (Australian),

tired, not in the humour, out of sorts.

feel like “St. Monday," and desire a "miche." Derived probably from the fact that a man thus shirking work would be off from inking, &c., the type for printing. It is now used in the United States to indicate any kind of inferiority or defect

in men or objects. Off his base (American), out of

his mind, insane, queer. A Brooklyn professor has been investi. gating cats and dogs, and he finds just as many cranks and fools among them as among human beings. He says that every fourth cat is off her base, while every ninth dog is a sort of fanatic.-Detroit Free Press. Off his cocoa-nut (popular), crazy,

mad. Off his dot (popular), crazy,

mad. Off his kadoova (Australian popu

lar), off his head, insane. Off his kadoova, " off his head," " off his chump," or simply “off,” all convey the same idea—as a train being off the rails, or a man off his play.

And at the very chapel-door began a free fight, because a man had tried to prove a man wrong who said he was off his kadoova.-New South Wales Paper.

Office (general), giving or tipping

the office, warning; giving a hint dishonestly to a confederate. And then, in a word or two that none of the outsiders can understand, the conductor gives the office to his driver, who sets the picter of good behaviour, you may depend, till the point of danger is passed.-J. Greenwood : Low-Life Deeps.

Information. Good old Baron, I will still stick to thee. Eurasian has gone up, and has gone down, the office having been given that John Hammond was going for Quicksand.Evening News.

They gives the public the office, and the public believes 'em, bust 'em !- ). Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Office is a provincial corruption of efese (Anglo-Saxon), the eaves of a house ; old English, ovese. Hence, perhaps, the phrase, “to give the office,” as of a person who gives information, the result of eaves-drop

ping. Office sneak (common), one who

sneaks into offices to steal coats and umbrellas.

Off his nut (common), weak in the

head, crazy, mad. (American), illogical, cracked. Also applied to any one who behaves eccentrically or obstinately, or who presses his opinions on others

in an asinine manner. Off his onion (costermongers),

imbecile, cracked.

Offish (common), distant, not

familiar (Hotten). Off its feet (printers), a reference made by printers when type

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up."

does not stand square through That'll raise a tidy mouse on your ogle, bad workmanship or “locking my lad.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Oh, after you (tailors), that will Off one's chump (common), crazy. do, cease talking. Vide CHUMP.

Oh, dummy! (popular), humbug, “Young man,” said the littérateur, as a light dawned in upon him, "you're off

nonsense. your chump. I don't want a razor to Yes, last night I had been making a shave with, I want a raiser that will take speech outside the old spot, when a little me upstairs to bed without having to fellow came up to me and said, “Oh, walk."-Bird o' Freedom.

dummy! governor, I've just heard that Then I got ill, an' know'd nothing for

speech of yours, and I'll lay you had someweeks. They said I was orf my chump.

thing when you're at home."-Broadside -- Fergus W. Hume : The Mystery of a

Ballad: The Second Fiddler of the Band. Hansom Cab.

Oh, Moses! (popular), a vulgar Off one's feed (common), unable expletive expression of surprise

to eat, having no appetite. Ori or incredulity, like “Oh, Heaginally stable slang.

vens !” “Oh, Jupiter !” “Oh, Off one's rocker (popular), crazy,

Jehoshaphat !” and the like. mad.

Thy face" the human face divine !"

Oh, Moses! Off the reel (nautical), at once, Whatever trait divine thy face discloses, without stopping. In allusion

Some vile Olympian cross-play pre-supto the way in which the logline flies off the reel when a ship

--J. B. Stephens: To a Black Gin. is sailing fast.

Oh my! (common). Application Off the spot (popular), out of

gathered from quotation. form, silly, imbecile. The meta

The upper crust of Nassau has, as a

rule, very little sense of humour, therefore phor is from billiards off or on

jokes have been voted ill-bred. Venture the spot-off or on the spot on one before a Conch lady and she will stroke, the most paying stroke make a painstaking and conscientious at billiards. To be off the spot,

mental effort to discover whether she therefore, is strictly to be “out

ought to laugh or not. If her inner con

sciousness answers this question in the of form,” whence it gets an affirmative, she will venture on a smile; implied meaning of silly, im if she is in doubt she will probably combecile. To be “off one's dot,”

promise the matter by exclaiming, Oh my! which has this latter meaning,

This is a favourite expression with them

on all occasions. If they hear a friend has is perhaps only a variation of

bought a new dress, or is going to be off the spot.

married, they exclaim, Oh my! or if the

friend has died, or had his house burnt Ogle (thieves and pugilistic), eye.' down, they exclaim, Oh my! all the same. And we shall caper a-heel-and-toeing,

St. James's Gazette.
With the mots their ogles throwing,
And old Cotton humming his pray.

Oh swallow yourself! (popular),
-Burrowes.

hold your tonguel don't bother!

poses.

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Oil of palms (popular), a money bribe, a tip. To oil the palm, to bribe, give a gratuity; “to oil the knocker,” to fee the porter. The French have "graisser

le marteau." Ointment (medical student),

butter. O.K. (American telegraph), all

correct, used to denote the line is clear, also to express anything very nice. An expression first attributed to President Jackson, who was said to have written 0.K. for “all

correct.” Old boots ! like (popular), a silly

simile, like anything, “as cheeky as old boots,” “as quick as old boots."

old dog (prison), meaning

gathered from quotation.

One of the greatest delicacies were large white or black slugs which crawled out in numbers after a shower of rain. I must confess to being shocked upon my march out to labour to find that the men were looking eagerly for those slugs, and as soon as one was seen it was pounced upon by a prisoner and swallowed in an instant while the officer was darting about to see if it was an old dog, as the bowls of the tobacco pipes were called. Even News.

oid doss (New York thieves),

the Tombs, the city prison, a sombre building in the gloomiest

style of Egyptian architecture. Old ebony (journalistic), a slang

title formerly given to Blackwood's Magazine-in allusion to

the publisher's name. Old gentleman (cardsharpers),

a card longer than the rest in the deck used by sharpers.

Old gown, smuggled tea (Hotten).

Old clo'! (popular), anything ex

hausted, played out, behind the

time. Ole clo'! Oleclo'! any old hats I'll buy 'em, They say the Tories are no good, well, let

the nation try 'em, Gladstone was a statesman, some thirty

years ago, But now his line of business ought to be Ole clo'!

-Catnach Press Broadside.

Old crow (American), a drink.
I don't tip very often, but when I'm feel.

ing low, Life seems a bit to soften when I try a good old crow.

-Broadside.
Wherever I go they say hullo,
Hip, hurrah for a jolly old crow!
-Francis Bros. : Jolly Old Crow.

In the United States Old Crow is the name of a choice brand of Bourbon or corn whisky.

Old Harvey (nautical), the large

boat (the launch) of a line-of

battle ship. Old horse (American), a slang

term applied by sailors to salt beef, especially when it does not please them. On such occasions they sometimes re

peat the following “grace:” "Old horse! old horse! what brought

you here? From Sacarap to Portland Pier I carted stone for many a year Till slain by blows and sore abuse They salted me down for sailors' use. The sailors they do me despise, Turn me over and damn my eyes,

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Eat my meat and pick my bones,
And pitch the rest to Davy Jones.”

Also “salt horse."
Old hoss (American), a term of

endearment, equivalent to “old

cock." Used also in England. Old iron (nautical), clothes worn

when on shore. A sailor will sometimes say, “I am going to work up my old iron," i.e., he means to say, “ I'm going ashore."

Old pelt (printers). This is

applied to old and worn-out pressmen-referring to the old ink pelts used in olden times by these individuals for distri

buting the ink. Old pie (American), an expres

sion equivalent to a note of admiration or of approval. “Sir," sed he, turnin' as red as a biled beet, “don't you know that the rules of our Church is, that I the Profit may hev as many wives as I wants?”

"Jes' so," I said. “You air olul pie, ain't you?"-Artemus Ward. Old pod (American), an old man.

Probably associated with limping along or walking slowly. “Pod, to put down awkwardly, to go afoot” (Wright). Podager, gout in the feet. Latin podagra.

Old man (common), the ridge

found between two sleepers in a feather bed; also the southernwood tree. In misses' phraseology a blanket used to wrap a young child in. An old name for a species of bird somewhat like a cuckoo, and called otherwise a rain-fowl. (Up-country Australian), an old male or buck kangaroo.

In bush parlance the old male kangaroo is called an old man; the young female “a flying doe," and the young one till eight or ten months old a “joey.” Some of the old men reach to an immense size, and I have often killed them over 2 cwts. -Bush Wanderings of a Naturalist. Ringed by the fathers of the tribe,

Surrounded yet alone,
The Bossaroo superbly posed

Upon a granite throne-
A very old old man who had

Four generations known.
-J. B. Stephens: Marsupial Bill.

(English and American sail-
ors), the old man, the captain
or master.
Now this is pretty bad,
Yet it's nothing to what's a-coming,
But I hear the old man a-bawling like mad
So I guess I will stop my humming.

-The Ballad of William Duff.

Old pot and pan (popular), a

familiar form of addressing any

one. To be called an old man, or old pot and

pan, Is quite the thing, as you know, By your servant-maid, a saucy young jade, When your wife's in the kitchen below.

-C. Sheard : Betsy. Old rats (American), equivalent to

“one of the boys,” a thoroughgoing one, a buck, a hearty old fellow. She then lade her hed over onto my showlder and sed I was old rats. I was astonished to heer this obsarvashun, which I knowd was never used in refined society, and I perlitely but emfattercally shoved her hed away.-Artemus Ward. Old Scratch (common), the devil.

A proper degree of this organ furnishes the possessor with a reasonable foresight

94

Old.

of consequences, and a tendency to avoid their evils. Witness an example, on the part of ladies, who choose female servants as ugly as Old Scratch-bless the matrons' wisdom - I don't blame them for their prudence, as a charming domestic is apt to be mistaken for the mistress, and the error not found out until the fat's in the fire.-Stump Orations.

pleases, to have it “all to oneself.” “The boys” had a high old time of it at the Epsom Drag Hunt Meeting last Wednesday. Enraged at the oofless state of the visitors, these merry men proceeded to cut through the refreshment tent.-Bird o Freedom.

Old shoe (cant), good luck. Probably alluding to shoes and slippers thrown at a newly-married

couple. Old six (common), old ale at six

pence a quart.

Spoken-Look what I've got to do tonight! There's fourteen "pubs” on my beat, and I've got to see that every one on 'em is closed at half-past twelve. That means that I've got fourteen pints of old six to get down me. Course you're not obliged to drink it, but you don't like to see good stuff wasted. I often thinks of the 'ardships of our perfession.-Popular Song: As I Walks by nzy Beat.

Old timer (American), a man who

has been in California, or in the mining regions of the adjacent States, since they were first settled. Coming from the barren deserts of Nevada and Western Utah—from the land where the irreverent and irrepressible old timer fills the air with a sulphurous odour from his profanity, and where nature is seen in its sternest aspect, and then suddenly finding oneself literally surrounded by flowers, and conversing with beauty about religion, is enough to charm the heart of a marble statue.-T. Stevens : Around the World on a Bicycle.

Old Toast, Old Poger (American

thieves), the devil.

oid Tom (common), gin.

Old son (Australian popular), my

fine fellow. An expression of patronage or contempt. One often hears, “I had you there, old son,” “Steady, old son," and such expressions. Ha! they've fired the stable. Don't stir! Have patience. I have you covered, you see, old son. — New South Wales Paper.

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Old stager (common), one well

initiated in anything.. Old, the, death. Sometimes "the

old man” or master is spoken

of as the old. old time, high (American), to

have a high old time of it is to amuse oneself prodigiously, to be at liberty to act as one

-Lytton : Ernest Maltravers. Dr. Brewer says, “ Thomas Norris, one of the men employed in Messrs. Hodges' distillery, opened a gin palace in Great Russell Street, and called the gin concocted by Thomas Chamberlain, one of the firm of Hodges, Old Tom, in compliment to his former master.” But, according to Bee's Slang Dictionary, 1823, the term is properly applicable to the cask containing the liquor.

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Omee (roughs and thieves), a man.

From the Italian uomo. Oh, donnys and omees, what gives me the

spur Is, I'm told by a mug (he tells whoppers) That I ought to have greased to have kept

out of stir The dukes of the narks and the coppers.

--The Referee. (Theatrical), "omee of the carsa," master of the house. Itinerant actors are accustomed to inquire at a new theatre for the manager, or at their lodgings for the landlord, thus, “Who's the omee of the carsa ?”

There are two side-aisles of great casks, ... bearing such inscriptions as Old Tom, 549 ; Young Tom, 360 ; Samson, 1421, the figures agreeing, we presume, with gallons understood. -Sketches by Boz. Old 'uns (turf), horses that are

more than three years old. Of seven horses that were in front at the finish six were old ’uns.—Sporting Times. Old 'un, the, or fool's father

(theatrical), the pantaloon. Old whale (nautical), a term for

a sailor. Also "sea-boy, shellback, old shell.” Old women (prison), for those

prisoners who, being unfit for physically hard work, are em

ployed in knitting stockings. Ole Virginia never tire (Ameri

can), a time-honoured expres-
sion applied to the Old Do-
minion State, or the Mother
of Presidents. It is generally
heard, however, as a negro ex-
pression.
In ole Kentuck in de arternoon
We sweep de floor wid a bran-new broom,
An' arter dat we form a ring,
And dis de song dat we do sing :
Klar de kitchen, ole fo'ks, young fo’ks,

Ole Virginny nebba' tire.
Oliver (thieves), the moon. From

its colour. It may be conjec-
tured, however, that it is pos-
sibly from the Danish ulf or ulfa,
a wolf. The moon (or night)
was one of Odin's wolves.
Now Oliver puts his black nightcap on,

And every star its glim is hiding;
And forth to the heath is the Sampsman

gone, His matchless cherry-black prancer riding.

-Ainsworth : Rookwood.

On (popular), tipsy.
Henceforth when door-exploring Jones,

Who reaches home a little on,
Observes, in somewhat husky tones,

“Hulloa, I shay, the keyhole's gone!” We must not hasten to cry “Shame!" For it's the climate that's to blame.

-Funny Folks.

(Sporting), to get on a man or horse, to make bets on him or it. (Common), to try it on, to make an attempt generally with a view of deceiving. (Winchester College), a call by any prefect to announce that the

“men” may enter chapel. On a string (American). “To

send a person to look for something that you are sure is somewhere else is putting him on a string. Humbugging, deceiving in any way. When a girl flirts with a sucker she has him on a string" (New York Slang Dictionary). Derived from billiards, as when a man gets a “run," or from anything with a view

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to one's advantage, as, for in

stance, two ducks in a line. On doog (costermongers' back

slang), no good. One (popular), a fib or lie. “Don't

tell me one" is constantly in the

popular mouth. Also a blow. One, &c. (legal), an attorney, being an abbreviation of One

of the Attorneys of Her Majesty. Onee soldi or win (low theatrical), one penny. Vide SOLDI. Win, old cant, is from a different source.

candidate, are depreciatory epithets that are thoroughly understood. When it was said by an opponent that General Grant was a one-horse candidate for the Presidency of the United States, the New York Herald declared, on the contrary, “that he was a whole team' and a big dog under the waggon."

He returned rather out of breath, just as the captain was giving the signal for departure. "A one-horse little place, I guess,” said a companion. “Well, no," said the explorer frankly; "I guess not. I stole a pair of socks in the market. I was tried, convicted, and publicly whipped in twenty minutes. I call it an uncommonly smart little place.”—Daily News. One nitch (printers), a vulgarism

applied to infants of the male

sex. One of the Lord's own (Ameri

can society), a dandy; one who is eminent as regards form, style, and chic. Also a “ daisy, a stunner, or first-classer” (MS. Americanisms by C. Leland Harrison).

One-eyed town (theatrical),

a disparaging term for some small town or theatre which somebody has visited to his sorrow.

One five (common), hand.

When a “Bobby” apprehends any one, he asks to look at his hands, and judges from the “palm” of one five as to the honesty of his prisoner.—Topical Times. One for his nob (popular), a blow

on the head.

A snatch was made at the tray, whereon the man with the broken nose dealt the snatcher one for his nob with his knuckly fist, coolly remarking, as he did so, “That's wot I'm here for!” —Daily Telegraph.

(Cards), when the knave of trump is held at the game of cribbage, the holder cries one for his nob!

One out of it (tailors). This phrase

signifies, “I don't care to be mixed up in it,” “I will have no

thing to do with the business." Oner (pronounced wunner), an

emphatic rendering of the word “one”-as of a person super-eminent, or greatly distinguished for strength, agility, or prowess of any kind. A heavy blow is also called a oner ; “one for his nob,” or a "oner for his nob,” are pugilistic elegancies of speech that have

One-horse (American), anything

small or comparatively unimportant. A one-horse bank, a one-horse town, a one-horse insurance company, a one-horse

Oner-On.

97

survived pugilism itself, in
popular usage.
I gave him a oner on the nose. -Punch.

The watcher is generally hanging about, and he'll “ down" you with a oner in the back or side (he won't hit you in the face, for fear of spoiling it).-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Also a blow, a shilling. Hence perhaps the slang term “blow"

for shilling One side to his mouth (sporting),

is said of a horse that only feels the bit on one side of his mouth. The horse has then a right-handed or left-handed mouth,

Onion (popular), the head. Vide

OFF HIS ONION.
Onions (thieves), watch seals.
When his ticker I set a-going,
With his onions, chain, and key.
-W. Maginn: Vidocq's Slang

Song.
On it (American). This eccentric

expression meant originally that a man was decidedly engaged in anything. It implied determination. “I'm on it,” I understand it. It came into very general use about 1860.

One under your arm (tailors),

getting in an extra job. One who makes the eagle squeal

(American), said of any grasping, avaricious, or mean man, that when he gets hold of a coin squeezes it so closely that the eagle impressed on it utters a scream or squeal. The expression has been in use for at least forty years. To make the eagle squeal is also used in a very different meaning when applied to anything which provokes national indignation (MS. Americanisms by C. Leland Har

rison). On his lines (printers), an alternative expression for “on the piece," or work paid for according to scale, and not by weekly wages or “'stab.”

On the batter (popular), a bout

of low debauchery, riotous liv.
ing, principally said of a street
walker. “It is of Anglo-Irish
origin, and signifies on the
street, on the road; from the
Irish word bóthar, a road (ori-
ginally a road for cattle, from
bo, a cow), in some parts of Ire-
land pronounced batter, as in
the place names Batterstown,
Greenbatter, Stonybatter, Boo-
terstown” (A. Smythe Palmer).
As for the word bater, that in English
purporteth a lane bearing to an highwaie,
I take it for a mere Irish word that crept
unawares into the English.-Stanihurst :
Description of Ireland.
On the booze. Vide BOOZE.
On the burst, bust. Vide Bust.
On the cross. Vide CROSS.
On the cross.
On the dead (American), gratis,

free. Probably derived from
“dead head” (which see).
So we followed him into the chamber as

soon as these words were said,
To get those beautiful presents all gratis
and on the dead.

---Song:

On his uppers (tailors), in very
reduced circumstances.
VOL. II.

On the dead quiet (common), in

secret. A variant is “on the strictest Q. T.” “Why did you sacrifice your beard ?” asked a young man yesterday of a friend whose honeymoon was barely over.

“On the dead quiet I'll tell you," replied the Benedict. --Sporting Times. On the fly (popular and thieves),

getting one's living by thieving

or other dishonest practices. · Also out drinking. On the forty-ninth ballot (Ameri

can). When an election is repeated many times before a candidate can be elected, it may be prolonged until it equals that of a Pennsylvania senator which required forty-nine ballottings. Hence the expression as applied to a very long contest of any kind. Miss Jennie, mindful of her Texas nativity, “ went for” a hickory club and the “sarpent” at the same time, tucking her skirts in genuine Amazonian style and attacking by echelon. In spite of his repeated efforts to fasten his fangs in the brave girl she got away with him on the forty-ninth ballot and left the field with the slimy varmint dragging behind her triumphant car. His snakeship was the proprietor of sixteen rattles, which makes him nineteen years of age-a regular octogenarian in the reptile kingdom.-Dallas News. On the ground floor (American).

Those who are the very first in any scheme to make money, or the original “promoters” of a speculation, are said to be on the ground-floor. It is a common trick to take investors in by assuring them that they are among the first and will have the best chance.

So in Amsterdam Herr Ganef paddled

out his Glory bonds;
And to all he slyly whispered, “ I will

let you in de first. .
On de ground-floor-sell out quickly-
for you know de ding may burst."

-Rise and Fall of Gloryville. On the half-shell (American),

a very peculiar phrase, derived from an oyster thus served. It is applied to anything prepared and ready for use. When Page's picture of Venus, naked and standing in a shell, was exhibited in New York, the “boys” described it as a girl on the half-shell. Also a part of, or by retail, by half-dozens.

I don't intend this essay for laffing in the lump, but for laffing on the half-shell. -Josh Billings on Laughing. On the job. Vide JOB, ON THE. On the lay (thieves). Vide LAY.

On the lay conveys the same metaphor as lying in ambush,

or lying in wait. On the ledge (popular), in a

predicament, or in danger or
trouble.
And now my mother's made a vow,
If he don't take the pledge,
The next time that he gets run in,
She'll leave him on the ledge.

-Geo. Horncastle: The Frying-Pan On the loose (popular), free, at

liberty, out of prison. I'd rather have 'arf a bellyfull on the loose, than roast meat and baked taters all day long in the steel (prison). -Greenwood: In Strange Company.

Also applied to any one engaged in a course of immoral indulgence, in drink or dissipation of any kind.

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attacking, is no longer slang, as appears by the following extract from the report of the proceedings in the House on September 13-14, 1887. “I shall not resume my seat,” he shouted in tones of passion, waving his arms the while. “You, Mr. Speaker, have been on the pounce for me ever since I rose, and I claim my right to speak. I have not transgressed your ruling. You have been on the pounce waiting for me all the evening, and I again claim my right to speak.”Standard.

On the make. Vide MAKE.
On the nod (common), speaking

to everybody, and claiming or
making acquaintances by mere

impudence.
I've found out a secret to live without

work,
Which has proved a good fortune to me,
I am now on the nod, and I find that it

pays,
For I tap every one that I see.
-T, W. Barrett: The Strand.

rushing Masher.
(Theatrical), getting trust-
particularly at public - houses.
Also applies to passing in at
theatres.

(Turf), to bet on the nod is to bet on credit, each party to the wager merely registering it in their books, and settling on the following Monday. So called in contradistinction to readymoney betting, where the backer hands over his cash to the bookmaker at the time of making the bet, and if a winner, receives payment immediately after the race.

Since the suppression of the piquets there has been a good deal of betting on the nod, and there is hardly a penciller who has not a few thousands of dead money on his head.—Bird o' Freedom.

Also silent bidding at auctions.

On the prigging lay (thieves), out

on a thieving expedition, picking pockets, &c. As from ken to ken I was going,

Doing a bit on the prigging lay, Who should I meet but a jolly blowen.

-W. Maginn : Vidocq's Slang Song. On the road (theatrical), explained

by quotation.

Companies in the provinces are on the road, another relic of the past.-Globe. On the scent (showmen and

circus), on the road, travelling about.

On the nose (thieves), watching.

Vide NOSE.

On the shallow (beggars), going

about half-naked to excite compassion. Apparently from shale, a husk, as of anything husked or stripped. Provincial English,

shalligo, scanty, applied to dress. On the sharp (American thieves).

A man who is familiar with all
the mysteries of gambling and
not to be taken in is said to be

on the sharp.
On the shelf (old), transported.
On the slate (printers), waiting

for something to turn up.

On the pounce (common). If, as

is thought, a word or phrase becomes legitimatised when it has once been used in Parlia. ment, then on the pounce, meaning to be on the look-out for

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scup for “ to swing" is common in New York (Bartlett).

On the tiles (common), out all night carousing. Alluding to cats.

On the square (popular), of masonic origin, and borrowed from the symbolism of operative masonry. To “act on the square,” is to act honourably; the square is one of the most important working tools, perfection of detail and accuracy being impossible without it. Hence the metaphor which has now passed into universal acceptance as synonymous with probity, truth, and honour, or more probably used in contradistinction to “on the cross," or “crook," the reverse of

straightforward. On the stairs (tailors), the usual

answer when a job is called for. On the strict Q.T. (common),

on the quiet; a phrase much in favour with the flirting servant girls when they meet their soldiers round the corner, or the cook treats Robert to the traditional cold mutton.

On the win (American), winning

or making money. This form of expression is now applied to an endless number of verbal nouns, e.g., "on the walk," "on the borrow," "on the preach," “on the steal,” &c.

The coffee ring were on the win. They confidently expected to see coffee selling at sixty cents.-Detroit Free Press.

On toast (American), anything

nicely served. Hence a man who is served out, or at one's mercy. Probably the metaphor is from the way small birds, such as snipe, quail, larks, &c., are eaten on toast, trussed and spitted. To have an adversary on toast, therefore, means to have him, as it were, trussed and spitted at one's mercy.

Oodles (American), plenty. “Plenty of money” (Bartlett). Possibly from “out deal;” German austheilen, to deal out.

On the swing (American), going,

acting, or being employed well enough but only temporarily. Thus a “swing-station" is one where a man only rests, or has a short swing of rest—not “a full swing," till the horses are changed. Probably through New York, from a Dutch phrase. Jemand op den schopzetten means to put any one on the swing, that is, to employ him temporarily, with the understanding that he may be summarily dismissed at any time. Vide To Scoop. It

10 SCOOP. 11 may here be observed that to

Oof (common), the most recent

slang term for money. A word brought into vogue by the Sporting Times, and now very

common. They quickly sought a neighbouring bar

They had not far to search-
And there she told him that her pa

Was pastor of a church.
He knew not that the game was spoof,

Or he had held aloof.

Oof-Opposite.

IOI

"I love but thee-dost need a proof?”. And echo answered “ Oof!”

-Sporting Times. O Goschen, mighty king of oof.

-Funny Folks. Said to be of Yiddish or Hebrew origin, but a punning joke on the French cuf, with reference to the goose with the golden eggs, may have contributed to the term, the more so as mention of the “oof bird” (which see) is often made. The word oeuf seems always to have tickled the fancy of Englishmen. Said one young 'Arry to the other young Arry, “Wot blooming fools these Frenchmen are! Why, they atcheley call eggs money." "'Ow's that?” says the other. “Why,” says the first," they call a hegg day's oof.'"-Scraps.

Oofless (common), poor, without

money. Vide OOF. He was loyal, did his painting in a hue

that shouldn't fade, At the Jubilee she must of course rejoice; Still the peelers couldn't sanction every

playful escapade, And he found himself compelled to make

a choice 'Twixt a month's incarceration and pecu

niary amends.
Being oo fless 'twas a case of lock and key.
He found it most convenient on returning

to his friends,
To say he paid a visit to the sea.

-Bird o' Freedom. Ooftisch (common), a variation of

"oof," money (which see).
If my coftisch disappears before my screw

has fallen due,
He's the boy who lets me have a bit ;
Of the Johnnies I'm acquainted with he

numbered 'mongst the few
Who'll help me in the matter of a writ.
To whom it is I'm wont to trust my golden

watch and chain,
My diamond ring, and wifey's silver

plate;
My demands, however frequent, our rela-

tions do not strain,
For he charges me, for love, a heavyrate-

Does my uncle.

-Bird o' Freedom. Open the occurrence, to (police),

to make an entry in the books
at a police-station of a new case.

Oof bird (common), funds, source from which comes the money. Vide O0F. It is sometimes said of a man who marries a wealthy lady that he has found the oof bird, or the oof bird has come

to him. “Good evening, mein herr,' said the lady

in white, To the Johnny who seemingly looked

rather tight, For the oof bird was somewhat remote on

that night, And his fingers with diamonds were gaily

bedight. And the Johnny divined as he looked at that sight, She was German.

Sporting Times. The “oof bird on the job” means that money is plentiful. (Cashiers and clerks), “ to make the oof bird walk,” to make the money circulate.

Opening his mouth too wide

(Stock Exchange), is said of one who gets excited, and in consequence bids for large amounts of stock which is adjudged to him.

Opera buffer (theatrical), one who

performs in “opera bouffe.”

Opposite tacks (nautical), cross

purposes.

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Optic (pugilistic), eye.

Casting my optics on the bruisers an gluttons of the past.-Punch.

You will see to what I refer if you will cast your "hoptic over the enclosed cutting."-Sporting Times.

Orchid (Stock Exchange), ex

plained by quotation.

A young sprig of nobility, who was admitted to the House as the unauthorised clerk of a dealer in the American market, was once heard to tell a friend that when he was in the House he felt like an "orchid in a turnip-field.” It is almost needless to say that he very shortly had cause to regret his speech, as ever afterwards he and his friends were known as orchids. . . . By degrees an orchid has become the nickname for any member who has a “handle” to his name.-Atkin: House Scraps.

Order (common), a large, big

order, a great, difficult, or arduous undertaking.

For a three-year-old to beat Oberon at even weights at first seems a “large order." -Sporting Times.

managers by demanding free admissions.

During the Italian Opera, and the performances of certain Italian tragedians ten years ago, it was the custom on the “off” nights to send out orders to impecunious members of the aristocracy, and others, to admit three persons free, with the object of inducing a fourth person to pay for admission. It was rarely, however, that the fourth person did pay. A certain manager who was perpetually pestered by cadgers of this description, upon receiving a letter from a soda-water merchant requesting an order, sent an answer to this effect: “Sir,In reply to your solicitation for an order, I beg to order a dozen of soda-water, and one of seltzer, for which my servant will pay you on delivery, less five per cent, for cash.” Upon receiving a modest request from the head of an “alarming sacrifice” firm for fifty or a hundred orders for the ladies and gentlemen of his establishment, the same manager replied by enclosing an order for two to the gallery, with the addenda that on this occasion evening dress was indispensable, and that the ticket was inadmissible after half-past seven.

Once upon a time one or two disreputable theatres managed to keep their doors open by flooding the house with paper on what is called the overflow and plunder system. E.g., the un

Orders (theatrical), free admis

sions. Although the system of indiscriminately giving orders has been at various times theruin of half the theatres in London and the country, yet many good plays which at first were failures have been nursed into great suc. cesses by judiciously “papering the house." Managers, however, frequently throw good money after bad, and bolster up bad pieces night after night by filling the house with “dead heads.” It is astonishing with whatshameless effrontery people of all classes, from the peerage downwards, levy blackmail upon

Orders-Out-and-out.

103

suspecting auditor has an order
for the pit; he goes there, and
finds the pit crammed to suffo.
cation by people who have not
paid. Upon payment of six-
pence he goes to the upper
boxes, they are also crowded ;
sixpence more takes him to the
dress circle. Before he can
obtain a seat he is bled of
another sixpence for his great-
coat, another for his umbrella,
and another for a programme.
The performances in these
places were as disreputable as
the management, and, as a
rule, would disgrace a show at
a country fair.

(Eton), explained by quota-
tion.
While we were in early school our beds
had to be made and our rooms tidied;
after that the orders, i.e., rolls, butter,
and milk had to be served round. Brins.
ley Richards : Seven Years at Eton.

Any one applying to him for a loan would be said to be "play

ing on the organ.” Organ-pipes (trade), explained

by quotation. ... to find that the dress-improver is really banished at last. A little artificial fulness is still introduced into the back of dress-skirts by means of folds of starched muslin, “their mission being to gloss over the reactionary moment, and avert a distressing sense of suddenness.” We are much mistaken if there is not the making of a great diplomatist of the old school in the author of this happy periphrasis for the arrangement known in the trade as organ-pipes.--Globe. Or out goes the gas (popular), a

threat to put an end to what.

ever is going on.
More drink and less talk, or out goes the

gas,
Be stopping your blethering ways.

-Broadside,
0. T. (printers). These initials

are used largely by printers and stand for “overtime,” i.e., work beyond the ordinary amount of hours calculated as a day's

work.
Otta, otter (Anglo-Indian), flour.
Otter (costermongers), eight-

pence. Italian otto.
Out (popular), a dram-glass.
Out-and-out (popular), excellent,
Out-a

beyond measure, true, surpas-
sing, thorough; in the quotation
it means quite a man, just like a
man.

“Won't he growl at all, when he hears a fiddle playing! And don't he hate other dogs as ain't of his breed !” “Oh, no! He's an out-and-out Christian." -Dickens: Oliver Twist.

Order your name to (Winchester

College), an unpleasant intima. tion. When a master wishes a “man” to taste the sweets of a flogging he tells him to order his name to. The culprit then goes to the “Bible clerk” (which see), and asks him to take his name down, giving the reason. Organ, carrying the (military),

carrying pack or valise at defaulters' or marching order drill. The dead weight is compared to that carried by an Italian organ-grinder. (Printers), a man that lends out money to his fellow-workmen at an exorbitant weekly interest.

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British Isles as “home,” and of Australia as out here. Making the voyage to England is "coming or going home," and the voyage to Australia coming or

going “out.” That is my Nellie-she's out here and

Mrs. Cupid Foote: We came to Melbourne late last year,

I could not bear the thought Of snow, and sleet, and slush, and rain,

and yellow London fogs, An English winter I maintain is only fit for frogs. -D. B. W, Sladen: The Squire's

Brother.

Out-and-outer (society), firstclass.

Pretty Polly Pouter
Is a reg'lar out-and-outer.

-Punch. (Popular), used as a substantive and an adjective, one that excels, surpasses, genuine. “They were burglars, then?” “Out. and-outers, sir.”—Greenwood: Odd People in Odd Places. Out-cry (Anglo-Indian). an

auction. Qutfit (American), “ the whole out

fit,” or “the blooming outfit,” the whole party. Termed also “all the boiling outfit.” Refers also to company, household, caravan, trading expedition.

The waggon master had the presence of mind to gallop his team out into the prairie, whilst the entire outfit made for the best cover it could find.-O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail. Outfitter (military), a term used

by officers of the Royal Artillery for one who is not fond of change from home to foreign service or from regimental to staff employment, and who is always getting an “outfit" for

the purpose. Out for an airing (turf), said of

a horse that is backward or of

a horse not meant to win. Out here (Australian). An Aus

tralian, no matter if he and his parents and grandparents have been born in Australia, and have never left Australia, and own not a sixpence outside of Australia, always speaks of the

Out of collar. Vide COLLAR.
Out of kilter. Vide KILTER.
Out of register (printers). An

inebriated person that could
not walk straight, but “wobbly,”
is thus termed, from the fact
that pages out of register in
printing a sheet would be “out

of the square," "out of truth.” Out of sorts (printers), a term

used when any letter runs 6 short” or is deficient, and hence the common figurative expression meaning melancholy, annoyed, or slightly indisposed. Outs (printers), an omission of a

part of the copy composed is said to be an "out.” The mean.

ing is obvious. Outside old-river (pidgin), the

Yang - tse - kiang. Cantonese,

Ngoi-kong-lo. Outsider (turf), a horse which does

not stand high in the public estimation, and is therefore noted

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in the betting “outside” the circle of “favourites.” There is also a human species of outsider, viz., any person whose liabilities to the bookmakers cause the inside of the ring to be too hot for him, and who if he goes racing at all is obliged to remain "outside" the sanctuaries of the solvent.

Overland-man (colonial), a man

driving a flock of sheep, or mob of horses or cattle, overland. The term has another signification, which is the really slang one, a man looking for work in the bush, and who manages to arrive at a station (sheep) about sundown, or after working hours, where he obtains a night's lodgings and rations, and goes on in the morning, doing the same again at sundown. This man is also called a “sun-downer.”

Out, two or three (popular),

when a quartern of gin or spirit
is divided into two or three
glasses.

Overland trout (American cowboys), bacon.

Over at the knees (stable), said

of a horse weak in the knees.

Two of the warrant officers of the court, who have had experience of horses, examined the animal, and reported that it was in very poor condition, and over at the knees.-Globe.

Over one (common), to come

over one, to try to intimidate or compel.

Overdraw the badger.

BADGER.

Vide

Over goes the show (popular), a

sudden change of resolution, an
upset of any kind physical or
moral, a catastrophe. Simile
from the upsetting a Punch and
Judy schwassel-box, or blowing
over an exhibition-tent.
It's all very well to say you won't

Go wrong again-but oh!
When a pretty little widow winks at

you,
Why-over goes the show!
I formed a resolution once

I'd never swear in vain,
If I felt a good swear coming on,

I bolted it again.
I was so good I kept it up

For quite a week or so;
Then I sat down on a piece of glass,
And-over went the show!

-Ballad.

Overplush, thus explained by the

Globe :-"Is it right to give the overplush, or is it not? Probably most people would answer that question by asking another, and inquiring, in the first place, what is overplush? Well, according to the testimony of a Midland Boniface, it is the ‘long pull'—not the long pull so largely and honourably associated with after-dinner oratory; not the long pull which is indissolubly connected with the strong pull and the pull all together; but a wholly different pull, namely, the publican's. It is not given to everybody to know everything, or even very much, about the business of the beer-seller; but those who do know something about it will

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Overrate it (theatrical), to over

do one's part.

Overs (bank), the odd money

remaining after the accounts

are made up. Overshot (popular), intoxicated.

Overtaken (popular), intoxicated.

He was temperate also in his drinking, ... but I never spake with the man that saw him overtaken. – Hacket: Life of Williams.

tell you that, in the drawing of beer, there is both a long pull and a short pull, nearly allied to those characteristic pulls on which the precise proportion of froth to liquor so much depends, and which Mr. Arthur Roberts is in the habit of illustrating nightly in his role of innkeeper of the time of Napoleon. Now, about the short pull there can be no question. Beer-drinkers, and, indeed, other stern moral. ists, will tell you that it is quite indefensible. You have no business to give short measure-unless you are a teetotaller in disguise; and even then it is not strictly equitable. For his twopence or threehalfpence a man should have his twopenceworth or his threehalfpenceworth. But can the long pull be supported ? Ought a publican to give the overplush? The legal representative of an official receiver says it seems strange that an innkeeper should sell beer at a loss—supplying more of it than he is paid for. But the particular innkeeper under discussion replied that he had adopted this policy by way of attracting custom. He proposed to win the public by giving over-measure, and then, the public gained, to give only full measure. And surely it is permissible to grant overplush, if thereby one can generate an overplush in the exchequer."

Over the left (common), explained

by quotation.

At this inquiry Mr. Martin looked with a countenance of excessive surprise at his two friends, and then each gentleman pointed with his right thumb over his left shoulder. This action, imperfectly described in words by the very feeble term of over the left . . . its expression is one of light and playful sarcasm.-Dickens. Pickwick Papers.

Overtoys box (Winchester), a

box like a cupboard to hold books, &c.

Owl (American), “drunk as a

biled owl,” very favourite simile for intoxication. Wanted, a man who can go to Mexico on Government business without getting drunker'n a biled owl. Address State Department, Washington, D.C. - St. Louis Globe-Democrat. Oxford clink. A play upon

words is called an Oxford clink by Leicester in Strafford's Let. i. 224. (Theatrical), free tickets of admission.

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P's and Q’s. Vide MIND YOUR

P'S AND Q’s.
Pace, to go the (common), to live

extravagantly.
He is the son of a famous racing man
who went the pace, and cut his throat in
Newmarket. -The Tattler
Pack (old cant), a gang.

No hooker of another pack.-Oath of
the Canting Crew.
Padding (literary), the light

articles in the monthly maga-
zines. Also extraneous matter
inserted in any literary work

for the sake of quantity. Padding ken (tramps), a low

lodging-house. One on the pad or road. Paddle, to (American), to go or

run away. Paddy, to come Paddy over one

(American), to bamboozle, hum. bug. “Oh, you infernal, lying, blackguardly rascal,” said the devil, who had been improving his language of late by reading the New York Sunday papers, “ do you think to come Paddy over me in that style?”—American Story. Paddy's hurricane (nautical), up and down the mast, i.e., no

wind at all.
Pad the hoof, to thieves and

tramps), to walk, to tramp.
It would be more correct to say,
“to hoof the pad,” .e., to tramp
on the pad or road. French,

Paint a town red, to (American),

explained by quotation.

To paint a town red is, I ought to explain, a Western expression, and signi. fies the height of reckless debauch; and when a cowboy, having drunk his fill of whisky, has let daylight with revolver shots through the hats of those who have ventured to differ from him, and has smashed all the glasses in the drinking saloon with his stock whip, and gallopped with a wild whoop down the principal street to the danger and consternation of the inhabitants, he may fairly be said to have done his part towards painting the town red. - Cumberland: The Queen's Highway.

Also to paint the town.
One of these chaps from Texas came in
there to paint the town, and got his tank
full.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Paint, to (popular), to drink,
a lluding to a red nose caused
by over-indulgence.

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The muse is dry, And Pegasus does thirst for Hippocrene, And fain would paint-imbibe the vulgar

call

Or hot, or cold, or long, or short.

-Kingsley : Two Years Ago. Pair off, to (American). In order

to avoid the trouble of voting a man will agree with some one of the opposite side that neither shall vote. Then both will pair off with as many others as they can induce to do the same. It is said that in a Western town this was carried to such an extent that at an election not a single vote was “deposited.”

The vast majority of strong-minded women wouldn't care so much about voting if they could only get a chance to pair off.-New Haven News. Pair, to (parliamentary), formerly

to pair off, to go in couples; my

pair, my companion, Pal (gypsy), brother, friend. Till

within fifty years this word
existed among English gypsies
as prula, which is the common
Romany form all over the Con-
tinent, derived directly from the
Hindu and Sanskrit brat. The
accent of a word is called pal
of a lav, i.e., its brother; pala !
oh, brother!
“Mat, hav akai! ma pūr ajā;

Sār 'shan tu, kushto, puro púl;"-
“Mat, come here! don't turn away!
How are you, good old friend?"-E. H.
Palmer.

Paleskro, brotherly. “The geero kaired mandy sar paleskro, as tacho as you'd kam "_" The man treated me brotherly, as well as you'd wish."

The term has become general. In society it means a great friend of either sex. When used with regard to a man as being a great pal of a lady, it means more than mere friendship. The lower classes and thieves use it with the sense of companion, friend, comrade, accomplice. Ned was a wide-awake villain. It was not the first time he had been “in trouble," and he was properly alive to the advantage of having a trustworthy pal at liberty.The Little Ragamuffins.

A prisoner inscribed in one of
his library books, “Good-bye,
Lucy dear, I'm parted from
you for seven year-Alf. Jones.”
Beneath this a sour sceptic who
subsequently used the book
added
“ If Lucy dear is like most gals

She'll give few sighs or moans,
But soon will find among your pals
Another Alfred Jones.”

-Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Palaver, conversation ; from

Spanish palabra. His Highness last year met the Crown Prince on the Riviera. They had several conversations together; they dined at Pegli, they breakfasted at Savona, and their palaver meant peace and nothing but peace.--Evening News. Palaver, to (general), to talk.

Vide PALAVER. The expression is common among tramps, itinerant vendors, strolling actors, &c. Nantee palaver, cease

talking Pall, to (popular), originally

nautical, to stop. From pall, a small instrument which is used to stop the windlass or capstan

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in a ship. I am palled, I cannot
or dare not say any more; I am

nonplussed, confounded. Pallyard (old cant), a beggar with manufactured sores. From the French paillard, a dissolute fellow; properly and originally a poor person who sleeps on the straw, such as mendicants, tramps. Du Cange says, “palhardus, homo nihili et infimæ conditionis.”

Palm grease (common), a bribe.

In French slang graisse. Also palm oil. French huile.

In England a bribe is commonly known as palm oil.–Standard. Palmer (thieves), a thief who

steals articles in a shop, jewellery, for instance, by making them adhere to his palm.

following explanation:-“Panelcrib, a place especially fitted up for the robbery of gentlemen, who are enticed thereto by women who make it their business to pick up strangers. Panelcribs are sometimes called bad. ger-cribs, shake-downs, touchcribs, and are variously fitted for the admission of those who are in the secret, but which defy the scrutiny of the uninitiated. Sometimes the casing of the door is made to swing on well-oiled hinges which are not discoverable in the room, while the door itself appears to be hung in the usual manner, and well secured by bolts and lock. At other times the entrance is effected by means of what ap. pears to be an ordinary wardrobe, the back of which revolves like a turnstile on pivots. When the victim is ready the thief enters, and picking the pocket-book out of the pocket, abstracts the money, and supplying its place with a small roll of paper, returns the book to its place. He then withdraws, and coming to the door raps and demands admission, calling the woman by the name of wife. The frightened victim dresses himself in a hurry, feels his pocket-book in its proper place, and escapes through another door, congratulating himself on his happy deliverance.” A panel-crib was formerly termed a panel-house. Hence the word panel for a prostitute, an inmate of such an establishment; abbreviated

Palmer's twisters (medical), the name given to strychnine pills, which were the medicine employed by Palmer of Rugeley in getting rid of Cooke. Palming (thieves), exchanging

spurious articles, e.g., watches, rings, diamonds, coins, for real ones. From the term in leger

demain. Pal, to (popular), to associate. And we pals on with Dukes, Lords, and

Markisses, Which our manners is strictly O.K., And they don't make no nasty remarkeses Respectu-ing Botany Bay.

-Blueskin : A Lay of Lag. Panel-crib (American). The New

York Slang Dictionary gives the

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from panel-girl. Compare with panel-thief, which see.

Panel-thief, one who extorts money by threats of violence in a panel-house or panel-crib, which see.

Pannum (costermongers and

thieves), bread, food. From the Italian pane.

Pantile (nautical), biscuit. (Popu

lar), a hat. More common as “tile." Properly the mould into

which sugar is poured. Pap (thieves), paper; especially

in the form of bank-notes. Come on, we have had a lucky touch for half a century in pap (£50 in paper, i.e., notes). --Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Paper-maker (popular), a rag

gatherer. Paper-mill, the office in the old

Court of Queen's Bench where the Crown Records were deposited.

Panny (thieves), a house ; flash

panny, a public-house or lodging-house frequented by thieves. Doing a panny, committing a burglary. Ranting Rob, poor fellow, was lagged for doing a panny!-Lytton: Paul Clif. ford.

Panny is probably a corruption of the old panel-house (same as panel-crib, which see), with extended meaning.

Panny-man (thieves), a burglar.

Also “buster," "cracksman."

Pan on (printers). A person with

a fit of the “blues,” or “ down in the dumps,” is said to have a pan on.

Paper, to (theatrical), to paper

a house, i.e., a theatre, is to fill it with orders. A paper-house is a theatre so filled. “There's a good deal of paper in the

house,” is a common expression. Paper-worker (popular), a vendor

of street literature. Papoose (American), a baby,

derived from the aboriginal language of the Virginian In

dians. Paralytic fit (tailors), a very

badly fitting garment. Pard (American), a corruption

of partner. Gold-miners, &c., usually work and live in couples, whence the term.

Say, old pard, do you want to stake me with fifty dollars ?--it's real good investment.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Parentheses (printers), a pair of

parentheses applies to bandy legs.

Pan out, to (American), to pay

well, to prove profitable.

I am afraid that, to use a miner's expression, we did not pan out as well as was anticipated.-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.

From "panning," the process which gold-diggers employ to separate the precious metal from the earth and other substances with which it is usually found associated,

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Parishes (Rugby), explained by

quotation.

The victims stand on one of the old wooden bedsteads, flanked by two small boys, each holding one of those tin sconces called at Rugby parishes.-Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Park railings (popular), the teeth.

A neck of mutton.
Parliamentary press (tailors), an

old custom of claiming any iron,
which happens to be in use,
for the purpose of opening the

collar seam.
Parlour-jumping (thieves), rob-

bing rooms, usually by getting
in through the window of rooms
seen to be unguarded.

This time I palled in with some older
hands at the game, who used to take me
a parlour-jumping. — Horsley : Jottings
from Jail.
Parter (sport), a liberal man.
Particular, a special mistress, one

belonging particularly to one man. A term much in vogue in the time of George IV., but which is seldom heard now. Also “peculiar.” In French particulière has the meaning of

wife or mistress. Part, to (sport), to pay willingly,

i.e., part with one's money. Party-rolls (Winchester College).

On the last Friday but one of the Half after dinner when the tutors had gone out, men used to call out “once, twice, thrice, party-rolls," three times. The custom arose from the coaching days when the students left the school in different parties.

Pass in one's chips, to (West

American), to die.

It was not until the following morning that I overtook Lone Wolf, when I found that thirty-two of his band had passed in their chips, and over forty-five were wounded. -OReilly: Fifty Years on the Trail.

Chips are counters in games of faro. (American newspaper),

items of news. Pass the compliment, to (popu

lar), to give a douceur or tip

to a servant. Past mark of mouth (society),

expresses that a lady or gentleman is getting on into middle age, borrowed from horse-dealing. After seven years old you cannot tell for certain the age of a horse by the marks on his teeth, and he is called past mark of mouth. The French have the vulgar phrase, applicable to a woman past her prime, “elle

ne marque plus.” Paste (printers), a synonym for

brains, referring to the “paste and scissors” class of editorial

gentlemen.
Paste and scissors (printers).
Matter borrowed from other
sources is from an editorial
point of view termed thus-
especially that which is appro-
priated without acknowledg-
ment.
Pasteboard (society), a visiting

card. To “shoot a p. 6.,” to
leave a card.
Pasteboard customer (trading),

one who takes long credit.

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Pasteboard, to (society), to paste

board a person is to drop a card

at an absent person's house. Paste-horn (popular), the nose;

originally shoemaking expres-
sion. From the receptacle used

by them for paste. Pastry. In the language of

young men about town, pastry
is the demi-monde, composed

of “tarts” and “tartlets."
Oh, beaks so stern and peelers proud,
You know the whole of the pastry crowd.
Their tricks are trite, their graces old,
And they never will go home when they're

told. When we get in the Brighton or Margate

train We're all right-but the tarts remain, They are left to skulk at their end of town.

-Sporting Times. Pasty (popular), a bookbinder. Patchey (theatrical), harlequin ;

so called from the triangular

spangled patches on his dress. Patch upon, not a (common),

not to be compared to. A patch ought to match the stuff upon which it is placed-therefore not a patch upon signifies literally “not to be matched with,” “not fit to hold a candle to.”

She's not a patch upon the duchess.Punch.

Whatever at the time had been
Her satisfaction at fourteen
When Ted had petted her, she now
Felt to herself inclined to vow
That it was not a patch upon
That which she just had undergone.
-D. B. W. Sladen : A Summer

Christmas.
Patent Frenchman (tailors), an

Irishman.

Patrico or pater cove (old cant),

a vagabond, a degraded friar,
monk, or priest, afterwards in
Protestant times called a hedge-
parson, who associated with
tramps or thieves, and gave his
services to them for a fee in
mock marriages. It was custo-
mary, according to Grose, on
these occasions for the man to
stand on one side of the carcase
of a dead beast and the woman
on the other, and on shaking
hands they were bidden by the
priest to live together till death
did them part, meaning appa-
rently that they were parted by
death as soon as the ceremony
was ended. This was an old
gypsy-Hindu custom.
But alas ! 'tis my fear that the false

patricoe
Is reaping those transports are only due
to me.

--Retoure, my dear Delle. Patrico is termed patriarkeo. in the “Fraternity of Vaga

bondes," 1575. Patter (popular and thieves), talk,

conjuror's talk to his audience, puffing speech. French boniment. Mavor's Spellin' and Copybook motters is

all they can run to. But slang ? Wy, it's simply smart patter, of wich ony

me and my sort 'as the 'ang. Snappy snideness put pithy, my pippin, the

pick of the chick and the hodd, And it fettles up talk, my dear Charlie

like 'ot hoyster sauce with biled cod.

-Punch.

You've got the patter all right, Billy, but you've on'y got it in the rough. .. You'll have to put it in perliter langwage, Billy.-). Greenwood: Under the Blue Blanket.

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To patter flash, i.e., to talk
cant, is old canting.
I pattered in flash like a covey knowing.

-W. Maginn.

Has been derived from paternoster, but it is the old gypsy pat, or patterava ; Hindu bat, which means slang or secret language. It is possibly allied in Romany to pat-serava, corrupt patter, to. trust or confide in, hence to speak secretly.

The true origin of the word patter occurred to the writer in a strange way. “It was in Brighton, when at a corner I saw a tramp with a few ferns in a basket.

“Shelkin galopas ?' I casually said in the curiqus Celtic dialect known as Shelta. Shelkin galopas means 'selling ferns.'

“That one word,' replied the tramp gravely, 'indicates that you, sir, are a gentleman who knows the world. Indeed, your knowledge of it is more than unusual—it is unique.'

"I at once saw that the tramp had been educated. I asked him if there were any gypsies in town.

"I have just seen old Lee, the tinker,' he replied. “And if you will come with me you may see him.'

“We went along to a small public, and entering found old Lee. He had known me of yore. Once, three years before, I had promised to give him a treat. It took the form of rum-bot sweet with a bit o' lemon, if

VOL. II.

you please. Then contrary to our express compact that the treat was not to exceed drinks, the needy knife-grinder asked for sixpence. And I replied-. 'I give thee sixpence! I will see thee damned first.'

“On seeing me again he burst out into Romany-he treated ; the tramp spoke to me in Shelta. The landlord glanced at me unfavourably. I asked for a private room. Drinks and cigars were provided. Mr. Lee had three hot rums, the tramp three whiskies. The tramp was a pale man and seemed to grow sober as Lee got drunk.

“I don't think,' he remarked, that the gypsies are of Hindoo origin. I rather think that they come from the Jángála, the hill tribes.'

(“Heyday!” I thought. “He doesn't call them jungle men, but uses the vernacular.”)

"For I always observed,' he resumed, 'that while the Hindoos only talk Hindustani, the Jangalas use that and have the Båt among themselves.'

“Great Dictionary!' I cried, why, that's Hindoo slang for slang itself. Bat or pat, and patter, are Romany for the jib.'

"That's true!'exclaimed Lee. *But patter is cantin' now.'

««• Lee,' I answered, “your great-great-great-grandfather used patter for talk. It was old Romany. Then your people dropped it when it got blown. Patter's the lav.' And turning to the tramp, I added— With

Η

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The Dalston Colosseum has an animated

Cirque; The Moore and Burgess Minstrels are, as

usual, at work ; And if you're fond of music halls, the

Empire and the Pav. Will give you just about the utmost you could wish to have.

-Fun.

your permission I will incorporate that observation of yours into the next paper which I propose to read before the Oriental Society. Don't you think that the gypsies came from the Dom?'

"I used to see a great many of the Domes when I was a soldier in India. I always thought they were real gypsies.'

“People sometimes ask me, *How did you learn gypsy?' Well, for every word learned, 'bang went a saxpence' for rum or beer.”

Patter is, however, very old English for to mutter. Ever he patred on theyr names fast. -How the Ploughman Learned his

Paternoster. The old English to patter, to mutter (a paternoster), probably combined with the Romany meaning merely slang.

Pawnee, Pāni (Anglo-Indian and

gypsy). In the latter also parny, water. “The word is used extensively in Anglo-Indian compound names, such as bilā. gāti-pāni, soda-water ; brandypawnee, brandy and water; kushbo-pāni, European perfumes (in gypsy kūshto-pāni, or kushtosūmeni-pāni, &c.” (Anglo-Indian Glossary). In both Hindustani and English gypsy the ocean is known as the kāla, or kālo-pāni, “the black water,” a term of terror in reference to transportation to penal settlements. In German cant water is termed bani.

Patteran, a gypsy trail, made by

throwing down a handful of grass occasionally (Hotten).

Patter - crib (thieves), a public

house or lodging - house frequented by thieves.

Patterer (streets), one who cried

last dying speeches in the

streets, &c. Paul's pigeons (school), the

scholars of St. Paul's School have been so called from time

immemorial. Pay. (London), the Pavilion Music

Hall.

Pax (Winchester), cease talking,

be quiet. Also a chum. Pay-away (common), go on with

your discourse. Originally nautical; from the phrase to payaway, i.e., to allow a rope to run

out. Pay dirt (American). When the

soil of a place afforded indication of gold in sufficient quantities to render mining profitable, it is called pay dirt. The term probably came from the Chinese diggers. The first story in which it occurs is one of a Chinaman who, having been employed to

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(Drivers), an informer against omnibus conductors and drivers. From to peach, to reveal a secret, inform against; corrupted from impeach.

Peacock engine (railway), a locomotive which carries coals and water in a separate tender, as distinguished from a tank engine, which carries engine, fuel, and water all on one frame.

Peacock horse, amongst under

takers, one with a showy tail and mane.

Pearlies (costermongers), pearl

buttons sewn down the sides of the costermongers' trousers in the East End.

dig a grave, and finding pay dirt or gold while so employed, “pre-empted” the ground, and was shot for so doing. The prefix pay is to be found in

several pidgin-English words. As their eyes remarked the symptoms, thus

their tongues responsive spoke: “In this undiscovered section there is pay

dirt, sure as smoke."

- The Rise and Fall of Gloryville. Pay for one's whistle, to (com

mon), to pay extravagantly for

any fancy. Some, though round them life's expenses

bristle, Are not opposed to paying for their whistle!

-Funny Folks. Pay, to (popular), to punish, beat.

Her father once said he would kill her
mother, and once or twice he paid her —
Standard.
Pay with a hook, to (Australian

thieves' patter), to steal. An
expression probably imported
into New South Wales in the
old convict days. To pay with
a hook signifies to obtain the
article, not by payment, but by
booking it, or running away.
You bought them? Ah, I fear me, John,
You paid them with a hook.
-). Brunton Stephens : My Chinee

Cook.
P. D. (trade), a substance which

is sold to grocers for mixing with, and thus adulterating, pepper. It is known in the trade by this rather enigmatical

appellation. Peach (English and American), a

very complimentary epithet for a young lady. Also “plum.”

Pear, to (thieves), to take money

from the police for information, and then from thieves for telling them how to escape. Pearmaking, the act of drawing supplies from both sides. Evidently from “pair,” and to

“pair off.” Pebble - beached (London), i.e.,

high and dry, or very poor. Explained by quotation.

He had arrived at a crisis of impecuniosity compared to which the small circumstance of being pebble-beached and stonybroke might be described as comparative affluence.-Sporting Times. Pec(Eton), money; from the Latin

pecunia. Peck (popular), food. Peck and

booze, food and drink; peckish, hungry; a good pecker, a good appetite. Peck-alley, the gullet.

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A holiday at Peckham, having nothing to eat. Peck is probably derived from the action of a hungry bird pecking at seed, and from its beak, which it has to open for the purpose. (Old cant), pek, meat (Harman). Ruff-pek, bacon. Pek or pekker means in gypsy to roast or bake, and is commonly applied to roast meat. It is found in all gypsy dialects. Mr. Turner derives pek from pecus, cattle (“ Vagrants and

Vagrancy,” p. 474). Peck-alley (common), the throat. Pecker (Oxford), appetite. (Common), a rare pecker, a hearty eater. From to peck, to eat voraciously. Keep your pecker up, take heart, do not be discouraged, never say die; literally keep your beak or head up, do not be down in the mouth.

Keep your pecker up, old fellow! and put your trust in old beans.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Peckish (common), hungry. Peck, to (common), to eat vora

ciously. Also “to wolf.” Ped (sporting), a pedestrian

usually a professional one.

These well-known Birmingham peds have joined in a sweepstakes of £5 each to run 120 yards level.–Referee. Pedlar's French and St. Giles'

Greek. The English commonalty, not understanding the secret jargon of tramps and beggars, different from what was called “flash,” or ordinary

vulgar slang, were accustomed to call it either “ French " or “Greek,” which two languages were equally unintelligible to them. The “ cant" words of tramps, pedlars, and beggars were thus designated as “French," and the Gaelic words spoken to a large extent by the Irish, who in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and up to the third decade of the nineteenth, inhabited the rookeries of St. Giles', London, through which New Oxford Street has been driven, was designated as “Greek.” Shakspeare speaks of the phrase duc-da-me, used in the sport, called Tom Tiddler's ground, as a Greek invocation to catch fools into a circle. There was a district in the slums of Westminster, inhabited chiefly by the disreputable classes, who spoke in a cant unknown to the other and less vulgar inhabitants of the metro

polis, known as “Petty France.” Pedlar's news (Scotch popular),

stale news. Pedlar's pony (American), a

walking-stick. Peel eggs with, to (common), to

stand on ceremony. “He's not one you would stand to peel eggs with,” i.e., stand on ceremony

with. Peeler (general), a policeman;

derived from Sir Robert Peel, who first started the metropolitan police in the place of the Bow Street runners.

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Bobby too open to the furtive“ tip"?
How can the world malign in such a

manner ? Although self-offered to the Peeler's grip, 'Tis plain a “Copper” will not take a “Tanner."

-Punch. Some years ago policemen were still called "Bobby Peelers.”

Vide BOBBY. Peel, to (common), to strip, take

off, expose, or show.

Peepers (common), the eyes.

The next question was how long they should wait to let the inmates close their peepers. - Reade : Never too Late to Mend.

... Or would amiably recommend an. other that, as his peepers were a-goin' fast, he'd best put up the shutters, because the early-closing movement ought to be follered out.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Peepers in mourning, bruised, black eyes. His peepers are just going out of mourning.–Bird o' Freedom. Peeping Tom (old cant), still in

use. A man who is mighty particular in peering, peaking, and prying about, especially to perceive maids undressing or undrest, when they, poor innocents, deem themselves unseen.-The Comical Critick.

The term is derived from
Peeping Tom of Coventry, who
was struck blind for thus offend-
ing.
So Peeping Thomas lost his sight.
The world cries out, “It served him right,

For looking at my Lady G.”
But oh, if every soul of us,
Who've done the same were punished
How many blind men there would be!

-Ballad of Peeping Tom.

Peepsies (Punch and Judy), the

pan pipes. Peg (general), a drink, generally brandy and soda. Hard drinkers in India, every time they have a drink, are said to add a peg to their coffin. The latter is synonymous with “to add a nail to one's coffin.” (Thieves),

a shilling Peg, on the military), to be

under arrest, as a non-commissioned officer. The expression is also used when a soldier is put under stoppages. A very common synonym in the army

is to be “roosted." Peg out a claim, to (Australian),

properly to mark out for one's
possession. The miner who
wishes to claim a certain piece
of ground had to mark it out
with pegs; so has the free se-
lector (9.v.) when taking up
land. Therefore to peg out one's
claim means to mark out for
one's possession, and is used
figuratively in ordinary con-
versation, as well as techni.
cally.
She is haunted by viscounts and barons,

With aristocratical names,
Fitzgerald, Fitzjames, and Fitzclarence,

All anxious to peg out their claims
On her heart, and her hand, and her

portion Their broken estates to renew, Long emaciate with the extortion Of lawyer, and broker, and Jew. -Douglas B. W. Sladen : A Bush

Flower. Peg out, to (common), to die.

Like a man who strikes his tent to take his departure.

thus,

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There is every reason to believe that the unfortunate woman pegged out because a remarkably enlarged liver interfered with the natural play of other internal appa. ratus.-Fun. Peg, putting in the (military),

taking a pull at one's self; being on the sober or quiet tack, voluntarily, or by superior

orders. Pegs (popular), legs. Peg, to (common), to drink fre

quently. Vide PEG. Pelter (nautical), the small ten

gun ship of old. (Popular), out for a pelter, means in a very

bad temper. Pelt, to (tailors), to sew thickly. Pempe (Winchester College).

When a new'“man" comes, he is asked whether he has his pempe (which in reality is an imaginary object, but is represented as being a book). Of course, the answer is in the negative, whereupon he is assured that it is quite indispensable, and is sent from one man to another, each telling him that some one else has it in his possession. The joke ends by his being sent to some master, who gets him out of his difficulties. The derivation is reumteuwpov a potepov, that is, “send the fool further.” A kindred joke, perpetrated on a raw recruit in the French army, is to send him on a fool's errand after the “clef du champ de manoeuvres,” or “le parapluie de l'escouade.”

Penang lawyer (Anglo-Indian), the name of a handsome walking-stick from Penang and Salampore. “The name is popularly thought to have originated in a jocular supposition that lawsuits in Penang were decided by the lex bocalinum (club-law). But pinang liyar (wild areca), may almost certainly be assumed to be the real name” (Anglo

Indian Glossary). Pencil-fever (turf), this imaginary

disease sets in when, despite the efforts of the “marketeers,” a horse can no longer be kept at a

short price in the lists (Hotten). Penciller (sporting), a bookmaker's

clerk. Penny gaff. Vide GAFF. Penny starver (popular), a penny

roll. Pepper-box. Vide COFFEE-MILL. Peppered (turf), used in reference

to a man who has laid large stakes on a horse. He was peppered in one dangerous quarter alone to the extent of three or four thousand pounds, simultaneously with a large outlay on Jerry. --Sporting Times. Perchera (Winchester College), a

mark put against a “man's” name who has been “late" for

chapel. Perfectly demmy (American

cadet). A man who is dressed in perfectly good taste-stylishly so—is said to be perfectly demmy.

Periodicals—Pete.

119

Also spurs. I have known a coster get a month for inflicting upon his donkey half the pain which the poor mare suffered from the jockey's persuaders.—Daily Paper.

Probably from association with
Mr. Mantalini of “Nicholas

Nickleby.”
Periodicals (American), men

who go at regular intervals on
sprees, or who get drunk only
at certain times, are said to
have their periodicals, i.e., perio-
dical dissipations.
“Mr. Featherly," inquired Bobby from
across the table, “are you in the book
business?" "I? No; I'm in the dry-
goods business. You know that very well,
Bobby.” “Yes; but ma and pa were
talking last night about your having your
little periodicals, and I thought perhaps
that you had made a change."--New York
Times.
Perks (common), perquisites.
To first-class passengers I speak

In accents soft and bland,
To second-class, though quite polite,

No nonsense will I stand;
But the third-class I'm down upon,

I treat them just like Turks,
The reason is, you understand,

From them I get no perks.

-T. Russell: The Railway Guard. Pernicated dude (Canadian), a

dandy who assumes a highly

swaggering manner. Pernicketty (American), fastidi

ous, mean, and over-particular.

The Comptroller of St. Louis must be very pernicketty. He objects, it seems, to paying out of the City Treasury for carriages to take aldermen home at night. -Detroit Free Press. Perpendicular (London), a lunch

taken standing at a bar. Persuaders (common), pistols.

“The persuaders ?” “I've got 'em," replied Sikes.-Charles Dickens : Oliver Twist.

Persuading plate (thieves), an , implement used by burglars. It

is an iron disk, revolving on a pivot with a cutting point. Detective - sergeant now produced a quantity of property found on the prisoners, including a persuading plate used for the purpose of forcing safes.—Daily News. Pesky (American), an adjective

used in detraction, as "the pesky horse !” “This is a pesky sight too bad.” Probably from the Dutch pestje! Pest on it! was a well-known English oath a century ago, but was still commoner in Dutch and German. Ein poitchen (dialect, Pestche').

Pete Jenkins (circus), a character

introduced in the ring as one who has friends in the audience. Sometimes it is an imaginary old aunt from the country, who is delighted at recognising her long lost nephew, yet horrified at seeing him risking his life by his daring feats on horseback. Peter assures her that there is no danger, and finally persuades her to take a ride. She, of course, tumbles off, and “makes business,” to the delight of all lookers-on. Anon some apparent rustic greets him, inquires if the circus-business pays, and is also persuaded into the ring. The original Pete Jenkins, a small man with a large nose, was in Dan Rice's troop, or

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Peter (thieves), a parcel.

So while I was looking about I piped a little peter (parcel). —Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

A cash-box. After we left the course, we found a dead 'un, and got a peter with very near a century of quids in it.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

Also a very old word for portmanteau. This was the original word. (Australian prison), punishment cell. (Poachers), a partridge.

which the youth is requested to ask for. He is generally settled with a pill of horse-dung when

they have had enough of him. Peter out, to (American), a Cali

fornia mining expression meaning to give out, be exhausted, or come to an end. “To go through St. Peter's needle,” (English provincial), to be beaten, or incur loss. Hence perhaps the expression.

Peter-claimer (thieves), one who

steals boxes, portmanteaus, bundles,

Peter Collins (theatrical), a

gentleman never to be found.
In towns there are generally
young aspirants who want to
act, who apply at the theatre,
and are told to call in the after-
noon. If he does he is sent in
search of Peter Collins, “that's
the man to give him a job,” by
one of the stage men, or any
one who knows the game, and
“ will you take this up to him,"
a sack with something heavy in
it, counterweights, and an old
pantomime mask generally. So
the youth is sent from the roof
to the cellar, and, finally, is
generally let down a trap and
left to get out as best he can.

The same trick is practised at circuses, but the password is the “green-handled rake,”

Peter Funk (American). In New

York city for nearly a century all kinds of petty humbug, deceit, and sham, especially in business, has been characterised by a mythical character named Peter Funk. Bartlettingeniously conjectures that this was a fictitious name given in at the mock - auction shops, where Peter is employed as a bybidder to run up prices and swindle the ignorant. But there is much in the term “to funk out,” or to disappear mysteriously, and in the associations with funk, a stench, or a smoke, which suggest humbug and foul dealing. Peter Funk is very fully described in an amusing old American novel called “The

Perils of Pearl Street." Peter Rugg (American). “He'll

get home as soon as Peter Rugg." “He's like Peter Rugg, the missing man.” “He brings weather like Peter Rugg.” The writer has often heard these and similar sayings in his youth, in Massachusetts. They are

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founded on the following legend. About the end of the seventeenth century one Peter Rugg and his daughter left Roxbury in a chaise to get to their home in Boston. A friend remarked that a storm was coming up which would prevent his getting home. To which Peter Rugg replied with a dire oath, “I will get home to-night or may I never get home." For a hundred years whenever a storm was coming it was always preceded by Peter Rugg in his old chaise, asking the way to his house. He was always in great distress, seeming to be bewildered. At last one day when his house had just been sold by auction and passed into the hands of a stranger and was no longer legally his home, Peter Rugg drove up, and then disappeared. His penance was at an end.

Phiz (common), face, countenance.
Proves as 'Arry is well to the front wen sech

higperlite pens pop on him.
Does me proud and no herror, dear pal;

shows we're both in the same bloomin' swim. Still, they don't cop my phiz quite ker-rect;

they know Gladstone right down to the

ground; But I ain't quite so easy 'it off, don'tcher see, if you take me all round.

-Punch. Piccadilly crawl, a languid walk much affected about ten years

ago. Pickers (popular), a very old term

for hands. Picker-up (Stock Exchange), a

man who tries to get members to make a wrong price, and then deals with them.

Petticoat pensioner (common), a man who lives on a prostitute's earnings. Also “Sunday-man,

ponce, prosser, Kaffir.” Pew-opener's muscle (medical),

a muscle of the palm of the hand so called by the late Sir Benjamin Brodie because it helps to contract and hollow the palm for the reception of

a gratuity. Pewter (common), money. Philadelphia Catechism (nauti

cal), the name by which the following couplet is known.

Pick flies off it, to (tailors), to

find fault with it. Picking out robins' eyes (tailors),

side-stitching a black cloth or

fine material.
Picking-up (popular), explained

by quotation.

There, it seems, the girls of the working class go out picking-up, just as the boys go out “mashing." They go by twos or threes, each little party of the same sex;

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“We've had an accident, sir," said Old Pleasure, the foreman; "the whole of 'Bits of Turf' has fallen into pie.”

“Pick it up,” said the great man, "and head it ‘Musings at the Cheshire Cheese.'" —Bird o Freedom.

the girls looking in the shop windows and giggling, the boys sauntering along, cigar. ette in mouth and hands in pocket. Presently the latter jostle up against the former. They apologise. No apology, they are told, is needed. “Going to market ?” asks the lad. “Yes,” is the reply. “May we come along ?” “Very well.” Thus is the ice speedily and satis. factorily broken !—Globe. Pickle jar (popular), a coachman

in yellow livery.

(Booksellers), the miscellaneous collection of books which have been pulled out of the alphabet during the day, and have to be replaced at night. It is always the last job of the day to put the pie away.

Pick-me-up (popular), a stimulat

ing draught before dinner, or after a debauch.

Pick off, to (Winchester College),

to hit somebody with a stone. Picture, not in the (turf), not

placed. In the Hardwicke Stakes he was fully fifty yards behind Bendigo, who, in turn, was not in the picture. -Sporting Times.

Piece (common). Hotten says that

this is “a contemptuous term for a woman-a strumpet.” It occurs in Elizabethan writers in this sense. It is now generally heard in such phrases as “she is a nice piece," "a good piece.”

Piece brokers (thieves), explained

by quotation. As he comes along, bringing your new suit home, he would think it no sin to call at that repository for stolen goods, the piece broker's, and sell there a strip of your unused cloth for a shilling.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Piece of calico (American), a girl

or woman. “ The calico," or “the muslin,"women in general.

Pie (printers). Almost technical.

Different kinds of type mixed up together, either through accident, as when a forme not tightened enough falls to pieces when being carried away, or through negligence. German and French printers use respec. tively the expressions, zwiebelfisch, literally fish with onions; and pâté, or pie, “faire du pâté," to distribute such mixed up type.

Bacon was a highly educated man, and an expert linguist; yet the foreign in the folio may be summarised as a mass of pie. Thus “Dictisima;” “vemchie, vencha, que non te vnde, que non te perreche.” These are copied from the quartos. Then we have the French : “il fait for chando, le man voi a le Court la grand affaires.”— Standard.

Piece of pudding (popular), a piece of luck, or a welcome change.

Piece of thick (popular slang), a

piece of Cavendish, or pressed
cake tobacco.

Never again!
Will I attempt a pipe to smoke,

Never again !
I've tried it once but 'twas no joke,

I got a clay and piece of thick,

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Thought I'd do a clever trick,
But crikey, didn't I feel sick,

Never again!

-Ballad (Francis & Day). Pieces (thieves), money. Rêve d'Or should be the mare to go,

Unless you boldly strike for Freedom, Concerning pieces thus to show The heartless bookies that you need 'em.

-Bird o' Freedom. The flash terms for pieces are: “brown, copper, blow," a penny; “bit,” threepence; “lord of the manor, pig, sprat, downer, snid, tanner,” sixpence; “bob, breakyleg, deaner,” shilling ; "alderman,” half-a-crown; “bull, cartwheel,” crown ; “ half a quid,” half a sovereign; “sov., quid, couter, yellow-boy, canary, foont," sovereign ; “ finnup, fiver,” five-pound note; “ double finnup, tenner,” ten-pound note; “pony,"twenty pounds; "monkey,” fifty pounds; “century,” hundred pounds; “plum,” £100,000 ; “marygold,” one million. Pieman (streets), he who is toss

ing at pitch and toss.

French use pigeon in the same sense. In Spanish cant palomo,

pigeon, is a gullible person. Pigeon, blue. Vide BLUE PIGEON. Pigeon holes (Winchester Col

lege), small studies. (Printers), matter widely and badly spaced. This is a recognised expression amongst compositors and readers, owing to the amount of white between the words,

likened to a nest of pigeon holes. Pig, pork (tailors), garments

spoiled, cut wrong, not the right material, or any error which precludes the possibility

of alteration. Pigs (Cambridge University), members of St. John's College are called pigs.

The Johnians are always known by the name of pigs; they put up a new organ

e day. which was immediately christened “ Baconi Novum Organum."Westminster Review.

(Printers), a term of contempt applied by compositors to pressmen. When pressmen entered the composing-room they would be received with grunts. A compositor would not dare to do this out of his own particular department. So “ Savage's Dic

tionary,” 1841, says. Pig's ear, pig's lug (tailors), a name given to a lappel collar or flap too heavy for the size of

garment. Pig's foot (American thieves), a

“jimmy," or thieves' short crow

Pie, to put into the (auction). At

book sales, to put into a large

lot, to be sold at the end. Pig (thieves and popular), a

policeman or detective. (Trade), sometimes cold pig, but more often the former. A term by which goods returned from any

cause are known. Pigeon (common), a dupe whose

fate it is to be "plucked” by blacklegs and others. The

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not derived from “Pike County, Missouri.” (Thieves), turn

pike. Pikers (Australian), wild cattle

which cannot be got out of the bush. From English slang to

pike, to run away. Pike it, to (popular and thieves),

to run away. From taking to the pike or turnpike road, as applied to a discontented person, “if you don't like it you can pike it."

Pig-sticker (army), sabre.
Pig-sty (printers), a press-room

is thus somewhat inelegantly

described. Pig's whistle (American), accord

ing to Bartlett, who gives it as a synonym for an instant, " In less than a pig's whistle." As there exists an old English equivalent for this in “less than a pig's whisper," and as there is a well-known old tavern sign called the “Pig and Whistle,” it is easy to see how one term might be derived from another. It seems to be a fact and not a mere philological guess, that “pig and whistle". was originally pigen weeshæl ! Hail to the Virgin! an amusing

instance of bathos. Pigtails (Stock Exchange),

Chartered Bank of India, Aus.

tralia, and China. Pike (American), a name applied

in California to the migratory poor whites, said to have originated, according to Bartlett, from the supposition that they came from Pike County, Missouri. “The true pike," says Mr. Fraahoff, “is the wandering gypsy-like Southern poor white who lives in a waggon.” As the term pike and pikey have been used for at least a century in England, and probably much longer, for a gypsy or a tramp, the term is evidently enough

Pikey (popular), a tramp or gypsy. Pile (American), now used in Eng

land. In the course of conversation it was very remarkable to notice the variety of occupations which a rich American has filled before he has “made his pile.” He may have been a bootblack, a messenger boy, the editor of a newspaper, the captain of a ferry-boat, a lawyer, or a murderer, but somehow he has done the trick."-Pall Mall Gazette.

To have made his pile, is generally supposed to be a term of Californian origin referring to a pile of gold dust, or to have come from the gambling tables, meaning a quantity of heapedup gold. Bartlett has, however, indicated that the term seems to be the revival of an old one used by Dr. Franklin in his “Poor Richard's Almanac" for April 1741, where he saysRash mortal, ere you take a wife, Contrive your pile to last for life.

Piler is obsolete English for one who accumulates money,and this supports the above deriva

Pile-Pill.

125

To pile out means to come forth.

tion (also the French amasser, to hoard).

“In Dutch peyl, a certain mark, as a water-mark; boven de peyl, above the set mark; peyler, one that sounds the deep, hence peyllood, a sounding lead, and peyloot, a pilot. Hence a man who had made his pile would be one who had attained his determined mark or limit, certainly a much more definite expression than that of a mere heap. It is true that about twenty-five years ago an Indian tribe in the West, when the Government offered them an indemnity for certain losses, in their ignorance of the art of counting, could only keep repeating, “Want heap money heap big.' At last one of the chiefs set an arrow in the ground and stipulated that there should be as much specie given as would quite cover it. It is curious that the word pronounced pile in Dutch shouldapropos of this story-mean both a set mark and an arrow, and also in English, a heap” (Chas. G. Leland : Notes).

Pile of mags (conjuring), a pile

of “faked” coins, or of coins so distributed as to move freely one above the other. This is a very old term, which must have been long in the profession, as the mags are generally gold, real or apparent; and in the so-called Gypsy Vocabulary of Bampfylde Moore Carew (but which has hardly a gypsy word in it), meg is a guinea. The ancient cant form of the word was make. Also make, a halfpenny; “ Brummagen macks," counterfeit halfpence, according to Dekker.

Pile on the agony, to. Vide

AGONY.

Pile on, to (American), applied to excess or intensity in any form. “In acting you should go and see

Our friend pile on the agony." Pile on the lather, Mr. Jones-do! Tell me that I am a twenty-five horse-power angel, 'iled with ottar of roses. It won't tire me much, and it may relieve you. -How Jones told his Story.

Pile in, to (American), a common

form of invitation to take part in anything, as a meal, or to come into a house, make one of a party in a vehicle or a dance,

&c. · They gave us a friendly hail, and whether they fancied we looked hungry or not, kindly asked us to sit down with them and pile in, which being interpreted signifies" Pitch in and eat."-M. Roberts : The Western Avernus.

Pill (common), a doctor; pill

driver, an itinerant apothecary. Pill-box (popular), a soldier's cap. Pilled (common), synonymous with

“black-balled.” Mr. Jubilee Plunger Benzon was pilled for the Southdown Club.-Bird - Freedom.

Pill, to (University), to talk twad

dle, or in platitudes.

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Pillow-sham (American), a cover

for a pillow. “Outwardly I was as decorous as a clean pillowsham," a quaint and slightly sarcastic phrase to express an appearance of decorous gravity

assumed for the occasion. Pimple (popular), the head. Pimp, to (University), to do little, mean, petty actions, to curry

favour. Pinchbeck villas (journalistic),

small cheap houses, mostly in the suburbs of cities, bearing pretentious names, such as “The Oaks,” “The Gables,” &c. Vur correspondent in Paris informs us that "there is a growing tendency to dub even the pinchbeck villas which are springing up all round the metropolis with the pretentious title of château.”—Daily Telegraph.

and nobody suspects him, 'cause he keeps losin' his money just like the rest of 'em.Confidence Crooks: Philadelphia Press.

It may be remarked that the roulette-tables, spin-boards, dice, teetotums, in short, all the games seen at fairs and races, are swindles. The rifles for firing at a mark for prizes cheat by having false sights or curves in the barrels. The writer at one of these places once succeeded in hitting the mark many times by aiming six inches be

low it. Pinch, to (thieves), to arrest, to

steal. Pink (common), the height of

perfection. Used by Shakspeare in this sense. (American cadet), being reported for some infraction of the regulations. “He's got a hefty skin of a pink for that jollification,” i.e., “He's got a severe report against

him.” Pinked (tailors), beautifully and

carefully made. Pinked between the lacings,

a very old term, from pinked, stabbed, still current among criminals and detectives in New York. It signifies convicted by reason of perjury. Also when an honest man is convicted of a false charge by treacherous advantage being taken of some weak point. To question a witness (as is very commonly done by unscrupulous counsel) as to all the sins of all his past life, which have no reference to the

Pinch-board (American thieves or

gambling), a swindling roulettetable.

There's the pinch-board. That's dead crooked. A sucker sees the wheel and the numbers all straight enough, and the little arrow in the middle. The owner tells him his chances are two to one if he bets on the odd or even numbers, and twelve to one if he puts his money on any one of the twelve. That's all muck. The owner has a brass tube running from the arrow to the edge of the board. There's a rod run through that, and a button on to the end of it. His capper stands next to the button, and by pressing his leg against it he can make the arrow stop (or point to) where he wants it. Sometimes the crowd think that the man that's work. ing the wheel is playing them, and they tell him to stand away from the table. He says, “Certainly, gentlemen ; anything to oblige !” and steps back a foot or two; but the capper he's there just the same,

Pinked— Pipers.

127

case whatever, is to pink him
between the lacings.
Pinked or skinned, to get (Ameri-

can cadet), to get reported.
Pinker (pugilistic), a blow that

draws the claret or blood. Pinky (American), an old New

York term for the little finger,
from the provincial English
pinky, very small. A common
term in New York, especially
among small children, who,
when making a bargain with
each other, are accustomed to
confirm it by interlocking the
little finger of each other's
right hands, and repeating the
following:

Pinky, pinky, bow-bell,
Whoever tells a lie,
Will sink down to the bad place,
And never rise up again.

(Bartlett.) Pinnel (thieves), corruption of

penal servitude.. Pinners-up (tramps), the sellers

of wall - songs, that is, songs printed on small sheets and pinned on a canvas stretched

on a wall for display.
Pins (common), legs.
Pint (tailors), “my pint for him,"

I commend him.
Pinto (American cowboys), a pie-

bald horse. From the Spanish
pinto, painted or coloured (MS.
Americanisms by C. Leland Har-

rison). Pints round (tailors), an expres

sion used in places where there

are a number of cutters employed and one drops his shears on the floor. Then the cry comes as from one man, pints round, and means that the unfortunate individual will have to pay for a pint of ale for every man in the shop. It is said that it was customary to enforce this rule, but it is not

so now. Pipeclaying it over (tailors), hid

ing the faults. Pipe-laying (American), making

arrangements to procure fraudulent votes. It is said to have been first used about 1835, in connection with a plot to import voters to New York from Philadelphia. Extensive works in connection with laying croton water-pipes were then in progress, and hence the phrase acquired its accepted significance. The Whig leaders were actually indicted for the alleged attempt at fraud, but were acquitted by the jury by whom they were tried. (Police), taking measures for the detection

of a suspected criminal. Pipe one's eye, to (popular), to

weep.
Why, what's that to you, if my eyes I'm a

piping,
A tear is a comfort, d'ye see, in its way.

-Charles Dibdin. Piper (London), a spy on omnibus

conductors. (American police),
a spy. Vide To PIPE.

Pipers (pugilistic), the lungs.

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Piper's news (Scotch popular),

stale news. Pipe, to (old cant), to cry.

(Thieves), to see. In this sense a corruption of "peep,” the eyes

being termed "peepers.” If I pipe a good chat, why, I touch for the

wedge,
But I'm not a “particular" robber;
I smug any snowy I see on the hedge,
And I ain't above daisies and clobber.

-The Referee. Also to follow and spy. (Popular), to talk. “You see," said the barber, “we help one another here, and I have fetched you out this last two nights so as to get you alongside this y'ere chum, who has got fourteen stretch and his ticket. Now then, pipe away, red 'un.”—Evening News. Pip, to (card-players), to take the

trick from your opponent. Pirates (London street), omni

buses in which extravagant prices are charged for fare. Did Mr. Shillibeer, when he started the London omnibus on its prosperous career of useful activity, ever foresee a time when a bold bad 'bus, called a pirate, would invade the streets ?—Daily Telegraph. Pit (thieves), explained by quota

tion

I had developed a special aptitude for “ buzzing” (pocket-picking) from the pit or inside breast coat pocket.—Tit-Bits.

else they were liable to imprisonment as rogues and vagabonds. Showmen are agreed that there is no better pitch in the world than London.Daily Telegraph.

A performance. His “fakements" or "properties” were costly and tasteful, and, in short, the entire pitch was a complete triumph.—Daily Telegraph.

Doing a pitch, doing business. Being at Plymouth fair, and doing a good business, there stood among the crowd a youth who bought a great many lots of me, so that when I had done my pitch, and got down from the stage ...Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

To “queer the pitch,” to spoil the pitch, or performance, a theatrical and circus phrase, meaning to stop, spoil a performance in any way. He was never "loose in ponging," nor did he ever “miss his tip." His equestrianism was emphatically “bono,” and there was nothing to “queer his pitch."Daily Telegraph.

Used also figuratively, to mar, spoil one's plans, business. When my pitch you endeavoured to

queer, Wasn't friendly at all, so I look for a share In her merry ten thousand a year.

-Sporting Times. (Popular), a short interval for sleep. Pitched (tailors), acquaintance

cut. No intercourse of any kind.

Pitch (circus, strolling players,

itinerants, &c.), a place suitable for a performance of any kind, sale of goods, &c. In certain towns, some sixteen years ago, actors could not work without getting permission from the mayor or justice of the peace,

Pitcher (coiners), one who utters

base coin.

Pitching—Plain-headed.

129

Wire in and go ahead, like fashionable

Fred, Pit-pat's the way and sharp's about the word.

-Ballad: Fashionable Fred.

Pitching it strong (common),

exaggerating, overdoing it.
"Well, I am thinking the 'Tiser is
pitching it rather strong."

“My love, what an expression.”—Reade:
Hard Cash.
Pitch in, pull out, to (tailors), to

work with a will.
Pitch into a person, to (common),

to castigate him, to revile him

severely. Pitch the fork, to (popular), to

tell a pitiful tale. Pitch the hunters, to (fairs), ex

plained by quotation. When Elias was at a pleasure fair, he would pitch the hunters, that is, put up the three sticks a penny business.-Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Pitch the nob. Vide PRICK THE

GARTER.

Pit riser (theatrical), a burst of

powerful acting which evokes an enthusiastic acclamation from the pit. Derived from the well - known anecdote of Edmund Kean.

On returning home, after his first appearance at Drury Lane, while describing his triumph to his wife, Mrs. Kean interrupted him by inquiring what Lord Essex thought of the little man's Shylock ?

“Damn Lord Essex! The pit rose at me!” replied Kean.

Pittsburg grip (American), ex

plained by quotation.

The Pittsburg grip, a throat disorder that troubled singers in the smoky city for years, has disappeared with the introduction of natural gas.- American Humorist.

From the French grippe, influenza.

Pitch, to (coiners), to utter base

coin. (Popular), to have a short

sleep. Pitch up (Winchester College), a clique or party, a set of chums. A Winchester boy's pitch up are

his friends at home. Pitch up with, to (Winchester

College), to associate with.

Vide PITCH UP.
Pit circlers (theatrical). The ex-

pression explains itself.

It is, however, so magnificently put on and so splendidly acted that it is no wonder the stallites, not to mention the pit circlers, crowd nightly to see it.-Bird o' Freedom. Pit-pat's the way (popular), trot along, go on, don't stop! VOL. II.

Place (tailors), “a breast-pocket

kind of place,” or “a one-eyed

kind of place,” is a small shop. Placebo (medical), “I will please,”

a dose of coloured water, or
something equally harmless,
given to a patient with an imagi-

nary malady.
Plain as a yard of pumpwater

(tailors), a quaint phrase, mean

ing very plain.
Plain-headed (society), a term to

express that a lady is not good

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A plant, a decoy, one who keeps watch for burglars to warn them. In this sense it literally means one planted there, like the French planton, orderly in waiting. Also hidden money or valuables; to spring a plant, to unearth such a hidden hoard.

looking; it is borrowed from

house language. Plain statement (tailors), an

indifferent meal, or an easy, simple, and straightforward garment to make. Plank, to (American and old Eng

lish), to pay down money. “To plank the pewter.” In old cant, both shillings and Spanish dollars were called boards. Now then, ye noble sportsmen, if you can find anything to beat him for a shop, plank down your spondulicks.—Sporting Times.

To plank it down, to lay money on a horse.

This is a better bloomin' game, I give you my vord, than plankin' it down to Kempton !-Sporting Times. Plant (thieves and various), a

preconcerted swindle, robbery, or burglary, in which sense the term explains itself as being a metaphor taken from planting cuttings or seeds in a garden. “What have you got to say for yourself, you withered old fence, eh?" "I was away on a plant.”—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

Hence any dishonest trick, dodge, device. " He should have tried mustachios, and a pair of military trousers.” “So he did, and they warn't of no more use than the other plant.”—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

“Have they got the requisite coin-you know what I mean the money?" inquired Mr. Laggers. “It isn't a plant?”-). Greenwood : Dick Temple.

You have really no idea
What an artful bird it is,
Fly to trap and up to biz,
Twigs a plant in half a minute.

-Punch.

Plant, to (thieves and various), to

mark a person out for robbery or a swindle. It is curious to note that the French have jardinier for a confederate in a confidence trick swindle, whose duty is to prepare the victim, foster and nurse him as a gardener would a plant. Also to conceal, hide. In this sense common in Australia. Why, they stuck up Wilson's station there, and murdered the man and woman in the kitchen; they then planted inside the house, and waited until Wilson came home at night with his stockman; then they rushed out and knocked old Wilson on the head, and drove a spear through the man's side.-A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland.

Not being able to send my gold down to the escort office for security, I was forced to content myself with planting it, which I did just inside my tent.-Australian Story.

To plant the job, to arrange and prepare, generally in reference to a robbery.

It was not found necessary to plant the job by squaring the servants beforehand, nor to invent any elaborate ruse, for it was considered that the more natural the mode of attack the better would be the chances of success.—Daily Telegraph.

(Coiners), to plant, to pass spurious coin, intrusted to them by the “dandy master,”or manu.

Plant-Platform.

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plasterer-one who thinks nothing of the lives and eyes of the men who surround him on all sides, and blows his pheasant to a pulp before the bird is seven feet in the air. ---Daily Telegraph.

Plaster, to (popular), to flatter.

He'd go out and get as drunk as a fiddler, and then he'd come rowlin' home and begin plasterin' myself over, calling me his colleen jhas and lovin' me the same as if we'd been married only fifteen minutes. — T. Browne: My Husband's Toddy.

Plate it, to (London), to walk.

Vide PLATES OF MEAT. An adipose gentleman plates it on to the stage, and chirrups the soul-stirring anthem, “You shan't wipe your nose on the flag."-Sporting Times.

facturer of base sovereigns and half sovereigns. A bottle of spirits is the ordinary purchase, and the smasher receives it and seven and sixpence as a commission.

It is a two-handed job, and two women, generally an old and a young one, manage it. The former carries the base coin, and the latter plants it.-J. Greenwood: Rag, Tag, & Co.

Also plant the sour. Although the tradesman on whom “her poor old man” had tried to “plant the sour” had sent for a constable, Mr. Maloney in the interim had contrived to put down his throat such evidence of his being a “ regular hand” as he happened to have about him.-J. Greenwood : Rag, Tag, & Co.

(Conjurors), to place an object to be afterwards magically discovered by the conjuror in the hands or pockets of a conscious or unconscious confederate among the spectators.

(Cardsharpers), to plant the books, to place the cards in the pack unfairly, for the purpose of cheating at play, or deceiving by legerdemain.

(Football), when a football is kicked against a person he is said to be planted. Is used more specially with reference to a hit in the face. The blow itself

is called a planter. Plasterer (sporting), explained in

the following extract. Worse, if it be possible, than this desolater of hares is the “masher" or “chappie" of modern England who prides himself on quick shooting, and cuts down his birds before they are well on the wing. Mr. Bromley-Davenport calls him the

Plates of meat (popular), the
feet.
As I walk along my beat,
You can hear my plates of meat.

-Music Hall Song. They recognise their favourite comedian, and anticipate his lines by numerous gags, and inquiries having reference to “what cheer” he is enjoying, and how his plates o' meat are.--Sporting Times.

Platform (common). “The word

platform, when used for the programme of a political party, is often classed as an Americanism, but it is really a revival of a use of the word that was very common in English literature in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, though less common, perhaps, as a noun than as a verb, meaning to lay down principles. For instance, Milton, in his ‘Reason of Church Government,' says that some

do not think it for the ease of their inconsequent opinions

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Thomas Cromwell, who seized and rifled the religious houses, and turned out their occupants to starve. This is, however, a very doubtful derivation. In some parts of England it is very common for an angry man to threaten another that he will play Hell and Tommy with him.

to grant that church discipline is platformed in the Bible, but that it is left to the discretion of men'" (Cornhill Magazine). It is used as a noun in Cromwell's letters.

A standpoint in an argument, a statement of opinion. Mrs. Anthony presented the following platform, which was unanimously adopted, “That the present claim for manhood suffrage sugar - coated with the words equal, impartial, universal, &c., is a fraud so long as woman is not permitted to share in the said suffrage.” — Report of the Great Woman's Demonstration, New York, 1867.

Pastor Chignel has set aside Dr. Barhan's Liturgy and has taken the most advanced platform known to modern Unitarianism." -Nonconformist. Platter (common), broken

crockery. Play board (Punch and Judy),

the stage. Play booty, to (theatrical), to play badly, and with malice prepense, for the purpose of flooring a

play, or a player. Play dark, to (popular), to con

ceal one's true character. “ Look here,” said Smithers, wiping the mess from his mouth, “ you've been playing dark, and I'm out of training, and- "-Moonshine. Play for, to (American), to deal

with generally, with an idea of deceiving. Vide Jay. Play Hell and Tommy, to. This

expression is thought to be a corruption of “Haland Tommy," the allusion being to Henry VIII. and his unscrupulous minister,

Playing it low down (American),

an expression signifying that a man has been too unprincipled, mean, or rapacious in an act.

I ain't over particular, but this I do say, that interducin' a feller to your sister, and availin' himself of the opportunity while you're a kissin' her to stock the cards, is a playin' it mighty low down.-Newspaper Story. Playing the sovereign(American).

Office-seekers who, shortly before an election, put on shabby clothes, drink whisky, and shake hands with everybody, and make themselves generally agreeable to all of inferior social position whom it is to their interest to conciliate, are said to be playing the sovereign, the object being to secure their good graces and obtain their votes. Probably derived from the common phrase the “sovereign people.”

Play old gooseberry, to (popu.

lar), to do a person a mischief, to “kick up a row,” to behave in a violently inimical manner. Vide GOOSEBERRY.

Please the pigs! (common), if you are willing, if all goes well -a form of assent providing no obstacle crops up. Edwards

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conferred,” says Cuthbert Bede, “the name of each person is read out before he is presented co the Vice-Chancellor. The proctor then walks once up and down the room, so that any person who objects to the degree being granted may signify the same by pulling or plucking the proctor's robes."

Plug (university), explained by

quotation. Getting up his subjects by the aid of those royal roads to knowledge, variously known as cribs, crams, plugs, abstracts, analyses, or epitomes.-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

(American), a high hat.

says the phrase, ludicrous as it is in its present shape, had its origin in a deep religious feeling. It was formerly “please the pyx." The pyx was the box which contained the consecrated wafer, and was held in the greatest veneration as the symbol of the Almighty. The phrase therefore, “ If it please the pyx,” was equivalent to “ If it shall please God," or, in modern form, “D.V.," i.e., Deo Volente, or, God being willing. This derivation is, however, much more ingenious than

probable. Plebe (American cadet), a new

cadet; a military synonym for the freshman of the univer

sities. Plebs (Westminster school), a

tradesman's son. From the

Latin plebs, populace. Pledge (Winchester College), to

give away. “Pledge me” means

after you. Ploughed (common), drunk. Plough, to (university). A man

is ploughed when he fails in an examination. Probably this word was suggested by the har. rowed feelings of the candidate. Well, the “gooseberry pie' is really too deep for me; but ploughed is the new Oxfordish for “plucked."-C. Reade: Hard Cash.

Plug a man, to (Royal Military

Academy), to kick one behind.

Plugged money (American).

Silver money is often treated by rogues who bore pieces out and fill the holes with lead or amalgam. The term is applied also to men with moral defects, e.g., “He is clever but there is a plug in him.” “You are not up to his plugs.” “Young man!” shouted the retail tobacconist, “ didn't I caution you to keep your eyes peeled for plugged silver coins?" -Detroit Free Press. Plugs (American), people who

assemble on the side-walks and stand there chatting, to the great inconvenience of the passers-by, or who, as any one may see for himself in Bond Street, London, love to stand with their backs to shop windows to exhibit themselves.

Pluck, to (common), an Oxford term now in general use, to reject a candidate for examination. “When the degrees are

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Oh, stand on the side-walk-do !
That the world may look at you !
You think you're so complete
And are dressed so very neat,

Oh, plug on the side-walk, do.
Oh, stand in the doorway, do!
To hinder passing through,
'Tis so very distingué

To be standing in the way;
Oh, plug up the doorway–do!

-Newspaper Ballad. Plug-teaching (American), teach

ing trades and arts in casual or evening lessons.

A good deal of boy (and girl) labour in America is brought into existence by what is called plug-teaching. "Two young men will be taught engraving in the evenings on easy terms." Telegraphy, typesetting, dress-cuiting, and designing are among the businesses thus “ taught;" and as a rule the teaching is the merest swindle. -St. James's Gazette.

Plug-ugly (American), the name

given in Baltimore to roughs and rowdies, now common.

One that shall devote as much space to literature as to "sport" (of the dog-fighting, rat-baiting kind); one that shall give a dead plug-ugly a line (if it is in the way of news), and a dead man who has done something in the world, for the world, many lines.- New York World.

“It is possible to trace the slang term plum for £ 100,000 to pluma, a feather, the idea being that a man who had accumulated this sum had feathered

his nest” (Standard). Plum or plumb (common), direct,

exactly, quite. “The original signification of this word is 'as the plummet hangs, perpendicularly,' hence its secondary meaning of straightforward, directly” (Bartlett).

Tom said she was going to get one of us, sure, before we got through. We got her half way; and then we was plumb played out, and most drownded with sweat.— The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Plum duff (sailor), plum pudding. Plummy (popular), satisfactory,

profitable. Vide Plumor PLUMB.

They do manage their things so pluni. my.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Plummy and slam (thieves), all

right. Vide PLUM or PLUMB. Plumper (racing), all one's money

laid on one horse.

The Fitzwilliam Plate was won by Lord Randolph Churchill's colt by Retreat out of White Lily, for which I gave a plumper, and he started at 7 to 1.—Truth.

(Election), vide To PLUMP. (American), explained by quotations.

A device for puffing out to smoothness the wrinkles of the cheeks, called plumpers, has been introduced. - New York Paper.

Milo Morgan was yesterday charged with feloniously taking one "palpitating bosom,” the property of Emile Horner, who keeps a fancy store, and Milo Morgan

Plum (common), £ 100,000.
The next day they disposed of their swag

for a plum, And invested the proceeds in Spaniards and Turks.

-Punch.

Plums, money. Daddy's plums in the bank, or daddy's dear, delightful daughter, which ?-Toby.

It is curious to note that in Spanish pluma, and in Italian pennes, meaning properly feather, have the slang signification of money.

Plump—Plush.

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stole from it a plumper, an article used for artificially rounding out the female bust, palpitating with it.-Hartford (Con. necticut) Times.

They'd put in so much plunder, two trunks, bandboxes, &c.-Bartlett: Major Jones's Courtship.

In Lower Canada packmen call luggage “butin,” that is, plunder, booty. French soldiers also use the word “butin" for equipment, belongings.

(Common), profit. (American), luggage.

Plump, to (election), to give all

one's votes to one single can. didate.

“Another election term, which will not be so common in the future as it has been in the past, is the expression to plump, and its opposite to

split.' With the increase of single-membered constituencies these phrases must fall into disuse, and a 'floater' will no longer be able to say with Mr. Chubb, in 'Felix Holt'-'I'll plump or I'll split for them as treat me the handsomest and are the most of what I call gentlemen ; that's my idea'” (Cornhill Magazine).

(Racing), to lay one's money on one single horse. But I shall plump for Lord R. Ch.'s L’Abbesse de Jouarre, who has been well tried.--Truth.

Plunge (society), a heavy and

reckless bet. We did not altogether like Mr. —'s plunge on Martley, and are not surprised to hear that the horse is struck out. — Sporting Times. Now my soul the question worries,

Which to plunge on-which to back, Friday—though the market flurries, Shall the colt a backer lack?

-Bell's Life.

Plum, to (popular), to deceive;

plum him up, plum the public, &c. Cheating costers fix three large plums at the bottom of a measure. They are so tightly wedged as to be immovable, and though they are in the measure they are not passed on to the purchaser.

Plunger (society), a wealthy man

who bets in a reckless manner, who takes large bets at any odds.

The current week has served to introduce us to a new plunger, who up to the present has given strong evidence of possession of more money than brains. He is said to have attained his majority only a few days since, and having come into upwards of half a million “ready," has been showing "who's which” in rare style. --Sporting Times.

Also a heavy dragoon. A Baptist.

Plunder (American), the personal

luggage of travellers. “Help yourself, stranger," said the landlord," while I take the plunder into the other room."-Hoffman: Winter in the West.

Plush (nautical), from plus. The

overplus of the gravy, arising from being distributed in a smaller measure than the true one, and assigned to the cook of each mess, becomes a cause of irregularity (Smyth).

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separantur," i.e., a fool and his money are soon parted (Anglo

Indian Glossary). Point (Stock Exchange). Points

are the bases of speculative operations. When a man has a point, it generally means that he has secret information concerning a particular stock, which enables him to deal with it to considerable advantage.

Pointer (American), a hint; the

same as “ straight tip” in English.

She fell into a cogitation on the Irish banshees who came to give one pointers on approaching death.—Chicago Tribune.

Poach, to (sporting), to get the

best of a start. Poacher (Stock Exchange), a

jobber who deals out of his own market. The term is also applied to a broker who is con

tinually changing his market. Pocket mining. Vide FOSSICK. Pockettes (conjurors), pockets

worn by some conjurors in addition to the profondes. From

poke, or French pochettes. Pod, in (popular), in the family way, i.e., run to seed. Pod is provincial for belly. (Ameri. can), pod, intimate, old-fashioned ways; an old pod, an

nola pod, an old-fashioned man. Also old pod, a man with a prominent

stomach. Poet's walk (Eton), when cricke

ters get leave of absence from roll-call, and have tea under the trees, they are said to go to

poet's walk. Poge(thieves), purse; a corruption

of “pouch,” or “poke.”

I went out the next day to Maidenhead, and touched for some wedge and a poge (purse), with over five quid in it.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Poggle, puggly, porgly, &c.

(Anglo-Indian), a madman, an idiot, a dolt. Hindu põgal. Often used colloquially by AngloIndians. A friend belonging to that body used to adduce a macaronic adage which we fear the non-Indian will fail to appreciate: "Pogalet pecunia jalde

Point rise (American), the rise of

one dollar, e.g., as an unit in the value of a stock.

Poke (thieves), purse. Properly

a pocket. Kit, from Seven Dials, remanded innocent on two charges of pokes, only out two weeks for a drag, expects to get fulled or else chucked.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

The thieves of London," said Dr. Lathom, "are the conservators of Saxonisms.” So poke is from the Saxon pocca, a bag, which otherwise survives in its diminutive “pocket," i.e., a little bag, in “buying a pig in a poke,” in the noun and verb

“pouch," &c. Poke bogey, to (popular), to play

nonsense, to humbug. “Now, don't you poke none of your bogey at me.” From bogey, a hobgoblin bugbear, and pro

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Poker (university), an esquire

bedell who carries a large mace before the Vice-Chancellor when engaged in his official capacity. (Fencing), a disorderly, uncourteous, rough fencer. “Un ferrailleur, tirailleur.” He was no better than a “tirailleur, jeu de soldat"-Anglicised a poker.–Angelo's Reminiscences, in his account of the bouts with Dr. Keys.

Pokerish (American), doubtful, or

of dubious safety, an expression implying something dangerous or alarming, but not used very seriously. From to poke, to

feel in the dark. I knew by the pokerish hole in the ground Which yawned at my feet that a mud

hole was near, And I said to myself, “ If there's dirt to

be found, The man who is humble may roll in it here!”

-Newspaper Parody.

Pole, up the (military), thought

well of by your superiors. Also applied to strict, strait-laced people, who are or like to be

considered “goody-goody." Poley (Australian up-country),

with the horns off. Though spelt differently, probably connected with "to poll.” “Polled” or "pollard” trees, willows, limes, &c., are those which have their tops or polls cut off, and are trimmed down. “ Polled” animals are often mentioned in the Bible. When he is jogging along, and not in exciting chase, he sits loosely in his saddle, his feet hanging anyhow from sheer laziness; but his keen eye darts this way and that in search of some stray beastthat poley-cow that got out of the yard, or Bleny, the strawberry bullock that bolted down by Sandy Creek.- The Globe.

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After he and his wife had entered, the constable came in and said to him, “ You come here along with me, you — ponce.” -Standard.

Policeman (popular), a fly, espe.

cially the “ blue - bottle” fly, which has given its name to a policeman. Also a sneak, a mean fellow. (Tailors), a man deputed to remind a new-comer that it is customary for new hands to contribute a certain sum of money to enable the men to drink his health; in other words, to pay his “footing.” The custom is dying out. It also means “spy” or tale-bearer.

Ponce shicer (theatrical), an

odious epithet, invented by the actors to stigmatise the most infamous of adventurers, creatures who lay themselves out to captivate actresses, and to live upon their earnings. Crapulous scoundrels who live by

chantage. Poncess (thieves), a woman who

supports a man by prostituting herself. The feminine of ponce, which see.

Poll (university), a contraction of

polloi (Tolloi), a term applied to the ordinary examination for the B.A. degree, as distinguished from the honour examinations at Cambridge. (Society), a prostitute, one of the demi-monde. It is derived from sailors, who always christen women Polly.

Pond (common), abbreviated from

herring pond, the ocean. We trust Colonel Cody and Mr. Sals. bury's plucky venture—for it requires pluck to cross the pond with such a show-will meet with a well-deserved reward. — Bailey's Monthly Magazine.

Polled up (popular), living with

a mistress.

Poll, to (printers), to vanquish in

competition. (Sporting), to distance, beat in a race. (Thieves), is said of a thief (poll thief) who robs another of his share of the booty. From to poll, to plunder, pillage, strip. Used by Spenser and Bacon.

Poney (racing), £25. An arbi

trary denomination like “monkey” and others. So there was much plunging on Blanch of Lancaster-ponies, tenners, fivers, even quids were being dumped down enthusiastically.--Sporting Times.

(American), a petit verre of brandy. Hence poney brandy, the best. Also a very little woman.

Polty (cricketers), easy ; polty, or

dolly catch, an easy catch.

Pompadours, the 56th Regiment

of Foot (Hotten).

Poney up (American), pay up;

said to be from the German poniren, to pay. In Dutch slang poen is money.

Ponce (popular and thieves), a

brothel bully, or one who lives on prostitutes.

Pongelow, pongellorum (general),

beer; also used in the army.

Pongelow—Pop.

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Pongelow, to (London), to have

some beer.

So we pooled our wealth together, and bought spring traps, and started off to try our luck with the beavers.-O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail.

Poona (costermongers), a pound;

a corruption of this word.

Pong, ponge, to (theatrical), to

vamp through a part in a play in ignorance of the text, substituting the actor's own words for those of the author. (Circus),

to perform. Pongo (circus and showmen), a

monkey. Pon my sivey, a corruption of

"asseveration," upon my word. Pon my sivey, if you were to see her picking you'd think she was laying on pounds' weight in a day instead of losing it.-). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, aw Co. Ponte (showmen), a sovereign ;

Italian pondo, pound.

Poop downhaul (nautical). Rus

sell gives this as “an imaginary rope"-a seaman's jest, like “ clapping the reel athwart ships," and other such say.

ings. Pootly-nautch (Anglo-Indian), a

puppet-show. Hindu, kath-putlināch, a wooden-puppet dance.

Ponto (college), explained by quo.

tation.

During a chorister's life in college he had to put up with such a thing as a wooden trencher, or a ponto (a much softer missile) thrown at his head [Note.-A ponto was the crumb of a new roll kneaded into a ball] and sundry cuffs. - Sporting Life.

Pop (society), champagne; ginger

pop is ginger beer. The derivation is obvious. (Eton School), the aristocratic club at Eton, originally a debating society, now a fashionable and exclusive lounge. (American), papa.

It seems that American children know not“ dad," and are in the habit of calling their fathers pop. On this side of the Atlantic we only associate the word with our "uncles.”—Funny Folks.

(London), Monday popular concerts. Passing over the Pop. on Monday, as containing nothing remarkable, I come to the performance of the “ Rose of Sharon” on Tuesday.-Referee.

Poodle (popular), facetiously ap

plied to any kind of dog. Pool (American), a combination,

clique, gang, association, or syndicate formed by all the dealers in a certain article, to force up the price of it.

A window-glass pool follows swiftly after the hard and soft coal pools, as these had been preceded or accompanied by monopolies for the control of other essential articles.--New York World. Pool, to (common), to form an

association, to club together.

Pop off the hooks, to (popular),

to die. He stirr'd not, he spoke not,-he none of

them knew, And Achille cried “Odzooks! I fear by

his looks, Our friend, François Xavier, has popp'd off the hooks !"

- Ingoldsby Legends.

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Popped as a hatter (tailors), very

much annoyed. Popping (American University),

getting an advantage. Poppy-cock (American), bosh,

nonsense, idle talk. It has no such meaning as “sound or fury," as the English edition of Artemus Ward declares, but refers rather to the display which appeals to and humbugs, or dazzles.

I venture to say that if you sarch all the earth over with a ten-hoss power mikriscope you won't be able to find such another pack of poppy-cock gabblers as the present Congress of the United States of America. -Artemus Ward.

From “pop-peacock," as in poppin-jay, influenced by peacock.

Pop your corn (American), "now,

then, pop your corn,” say what you have to say, speak out. Pop-corn is a variety of maize, of a small grain, sometimes of a dark colour. When roasted it pops or expands suddenly. It is often eaten with milk. “Juliana!” he said to me in a tremorous voice. “I've some corn that I want to pop-will you acknowledge that corn."

And I said I would. That was the way he popped.-Newspaper.

P. P. (racing), play or pay.

Porridge disturber (pugilistic), a

blow in the pit of the stomach.

Porterhouse steak (American), a

large steak with a small bone.

Pops (thieves), pistols.

"Are you armed?” asked Ginger.

“I have a brace of pistols in my pocket," replied Thorneycroft.

"All right, then-ve've all got pops and cutlashes,” said Ginger. – Ainsworth : Auriol.

Porter's knot (common), the large

bob of hair at the back of the head worn by women in 1866. Also known as a "waterfall,”

“cataract,” &c. Portrait (common), a sovereign. Posers (Winchester College), two men who come down from New College at election. They examine for the Winchester and New College scholarships and exhibitions. From poser, an awkward question.

Pop-shop (common), pawn

broker's.

As to the other cloak and shawl, don't be afraid ; they shan't go to the pop-shop. -Lord Lytton : Ernest Maltravers.

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posing him to be dead. But I will never allow another grizzly to play that racket. -Cincinnati Enquirer.

Post-and-rails (Australian),

wooden matches as distinguished from wax vestas. The ordinary Australian has a great contempt for wooden matches, very likely because safety-matches, such a necessary precaution in the bush, are generally made of wood.

“ Alf,” said a great friend of mine to a companion who was engaged with us on a shooting expedition down in Bulu-Bulu, one of the eastern provinces of Victoria. “Have you got a match ?"

"Only a post-and-rails,” was the deprecating reply, responded to with a patronising “Never mind.”—D. B. W. Sladen.

Posh (society), modern term for

money. originally used for a halfpenny or small coin. From the gypsy pash or posh, a half. In Romany poshero, the affix ero being corrupted from hāro, copper, i.e., a copper or a penny. Posh an' posh, half and half, applied to those who are of mixed blood, or half gypsy.

Also a dandy. Possum-guts · (Australian bush),

a term of contempt.

Two bushmen walked into the bar of an hotel which an enterprising Frenchman had just set up in the principal Riverina township: not finding any one to serve them, they pursued their rambles into the house until they were confronted by a glass door with Salle-à-manger painted on it. Sandy was "stuck.” “What's that?” he said, with a storm of expletive words to his mate, an Irishman. “You possum-guts! Why, it says if you want anything, sound for the manager.”—D. B. W. Sladen.

"I'll teach you to whistle when a gentle. man comes into the hut, you possumguts!”—H. Kingsley : Geoffrey Hamlyn. Possum, to (American), to feign,

to dissemble, to sham deada slang phrase almost equivalent to the old English “sham Abraham" (q.v.). "The expression." says Bartlett, “alludes to the habit of the opossum, which throws itself on its back, and feigns death on the approach of an enemy.” As one who counterfeits sickness, or dissembles strongly for a particular purpose, is said to be possuming.–Flint : Geography of the Mississippi Valley.

Also to play possum. You see, the first grizzly I caught in a trap played 'possum with me. After the first or second shot I went up to him, sup.

Post-and-rails tea, coarse tea with stalks and leaves floating in it. The metaphor is obvious. The tea supplied to the stationhands is proverbially bad. It gets its name from the stalks, leaves, &c., floating about when it is decocted. He brought us some black damper and a dry chip of cheese (for we were famished), together with a hot beverage in a tin pot, which richly deserved the colonial epithet of post-and-rails tea, for it might well have been a decoction of "split stuff,” or “iron bark shingles" for any resemblance it bore to the Chinese plant.-D. B. W. Sladen.

Posted (American), informed as

to anything, posted up. This term was first used in this sense and made popular by Mr. David Stearns Godfrey of Milford, Massachusetts. (Cambridge University), to be posted is to be rejected in an examination.

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Fifty marks will prevent one from being posted, but there are always two or three too stupid as well as idle to save their post. These drones are posted separately, as “not worthy to be classed," and privately slanged afterwards by the master and seniors. Should a man be posted twice in succession, he is generally recommended to try the air of some small college, or devote his energies to some other walk of life.Hall: College Words and Customs. Post-horn (popular), the nose.

From the noise when blowing one's nose. In French slang

trompette means face. Postman (legal), one of the bar

risters in a common law court is so called from the privileges he enjoys. The expression is

well understood. Postmasters (Oxford University),

scholars on the foundation at Merton College.

The postmasters anciently performed the duties of choristers, and their payment for this duty was six shillings and fourpence per annum.—Oxford Guide. Post-mortem (Cambridge Univer

sity), the second examination after failure. Post the coin, to (sporting), to

make a deposit for a match.

Generally to pay. Post, to (university), to put up a man's name as not having paid for food supplied by the college, which precludes him from having any more till he does pay. (Common), post the cole, vide . COAL. Pot (common), short for pot hat.

Nice lads, very nice ; always like Eton boys when they haven't got pots on.Punch.

(Sporting and American), the amount of stakes on a horse. On receiving the list of winning numbers the ticket was at once placed in the hands of the First National bank and yesterday the full amount of the prize, less a small sum for collection, was paid over by the bank to Mr. Poppendick and the pot duly divided with his pard.—Omaha (Neb.) Bee.

Also an adept, a swell, the favourite in the betting for a race. The prospects of respective cricket pots. -Punch.

To put on a pot, to lay a large sum of money on a horse.

(Winchester College), the pot, the canal; pot-cad, a workman at the sawmills; pot-gates, lock. gates; pot-houser, a jump into the canal from the roof of a house called pot-house.

Potate (American), signifying to

drink; an abbreviation from potation, as the kindred but more permissible vulgarism orate, from oration. The last word has already been naturalised in English, but potate remains an alien.

Potato-trap (common), the

mouth.

That'll damage your potato-trap!-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

Pot-boiler (studios), an appella

tion given by artists to a picture painted only for the sake of the pecuniary advantages it brings. French artists term “faire du métier” painting such pictures for the trade. (Journalistic), any

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e.g., the crack expert arranges on Whit-Monday with his more formidable rivals not on any account to clash with them, but to farm a meeting a-piece. In the old days gentlemen would go any distance to meet a rival and have it out with him, but nothing is further from the thoughts of the present“crack.”

production written for money not glory.

It is a strange coincidence that the writer of these lines was actively engaged with Archie M'Neil in collaborating on a pot-boiler.-Topical Times. Pot-fair (university), the name

given to the midsummer fair held at Cambridge.

The fair on Midsummer Green, known by the name of Pot-fair, was in all its glory. There were booths at which raffles for pictures, china, and millinery took place every evening, which were not over till a late hour.-Gunning: Reminiscences. Pot, go to (common), be off, you

be hanged. Explained by quotation.

Isn't saying of a man who's come to grief through beer, that he's "gone to pot,” a pewter-ful sort of ale-legory?Funny Folks.

To go to pot, to die. This expression refers to broken metal

placed in the melting-pot. Pothouse, i.e., Peterhouse, or

St. Peter's College, Cambridge.

Potlash (Canadian), explained by

quotation.

Roughly speaking, it seems a potlash is an entertainment lasting any time from a week to three months, provided by one tribe for another, and entailing on the tribe so entertained the duties of receiving their hosts in like manner on some future occasion, generally at the same date in the succeeding year.-Phillipps-Wolley: Trottings of a Tenderfoot.

Pot on, to put the (trade), to

overcharge. (Common), to exaggerate.

Pot-hunter (sporting), a man who

goes round to small athletic meetings with a view of getting as many prizes as he can. Vide POTS. (Fisher), one who fishes only for the sake of the catch, not for the sport.

But ordinary mortals have a natural dislike to returning with empty baskets, and some people not necessarily pot-hunters like to eat trout. — Sir H. Pottinger: Trout-Fishing.

Pots (sporting), prizes for athletic

sports, generally given in the shape of mugs. (Stock Exchange), North Staffordshire Railway ordinary stock. (Nautical), name for the steward on board passenger-boats. From the pots or basins he provides for sick persons.

Pot-shot (common
Pot-shot (common), a shot from

a hole or ambush.

But when you turn in vour hounds and wait till the deer come like dumb driven cattle to the water, beside which you have sat till you have got cold and cramped, there is none of the credit due to the quiet pot-shot which a quick snap-shot at a buck on the jump might earn.-Phillipps-Wolley: Trottings of a Tenderfoot.

Pot-hunting (sporting), a sport

greatly favoured by amateurs since the abolition of the gentleman-amateur qualification

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Potted fug (Rugby), boys thus

term potted meat. Potted, to be (common), to be

snubbed or suppressed. Pot, to (common), to shoot.

Poisoners of hounds, and enemies of all sport save the potting a fellow-creature from behind a fence, can and should be dealt with in no other way.-Bird o' Freedom.

(Racing), to lay a large sum on a horse.

Two of these accomplished gentry, who had severally gone for the crack and the field, that is, had systematically and regularly backed the one and potted the other. - Sporting Times.

(Billiards), to pot a ball, send it in the pocket. Pot, to put on the big (sporting),

to bully, arrogantly patronise. A big pot is a great swell, an adept, a favourite in racing.

other electoral anomalies, were abolished by the passing of the great Reform Bill; but a cognate abuse, that of 'faggotvoting,' survives in some constituencies."

(Common), a low parasite. (Theatrical), a tap-room talker. Pouch through, to (American), a

post-office term, meaning to

convey mail matter in a pouch. Till Special-Agent Death came by one day, And pouched the old man through the

graveyard town. He lay quite still, when suddenly he cried, “Mail closed !” and drew his salary, and died.

-Robert J. Burdette. Pouf (theatrical), an epithet ap

plied by the actors to a silly fellow, who imagines himself to be an actor. Poulderlings (old), students of

the second year at St. John's, Oxford.

The whole companye, or most parte of the students of the same house mette toogeher to beginne their Christmas, of wch some came to see sports, to witte the seniors as well graduates as vnder-graduates. Others to make sports, viz., studentes of the seconde yeare, whom they call Poulderlings. — Christmas Prinee. Poulterer (thieves), one who gets

letters from post-boxes, opens
them, steals the money which
they contain, seals them, and
drops them again into the box.
The receiver naturally supposes
that the sender omitted to en-

close the money.
Poultice wallah (military), a man

of the staff corps; one whose

Pot-walloper (elections), thus

explained in the Cornhill Magazine :—

“One can well imagine what influence the 'man in the moon' had in days gone by with voters of the class known as pot-wallopers. The bearers of this melodious name were electors whose sole title to the possession of the franchise was the fact of their having been settled in the parish for six months, the settlement being considered sufficiently proved if the claimant bad boiled his own pot within its boundaries for the required period—wall meaning to boil. The pot-wallopers, with many

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Primed (common), on the verge

of intoxication. (Students), crammed for an examination.

Prime flat (thieves), an easy dupe.

Vaux, in his “Memoirs," says: “Any person who is found an easy dupe to the designs of the family is said to be a prime flat."

Printer's devil (printers), a

printer's boy. Moxon, 1683, attributes this term to the fact that the boys used to “ black and bedaubthemselves,” whence the workmen jocosely called them “Devils.” The real origin, it is believed, was that Aldus Manutius, the Venetian printer, had a negro boy, and in those days printing was ignorantly supposed to be a “black art," hence the term. Passing for the nonce the itinerant “paper boy," the "errand boy," and the printer's devil, which last genus garçon machinery is fast driving from his stool, come we to the Arabs of the town.-J. Diprose: London Life. Private stitch, to (tailors), to

stitch without showing the mark.

Profondes (conjurors), the pockets

in the tails of a conjuror's dress

coat. French slang. Prog (common), food of any kind. What other fellows call beastly prog Is the very stuff for me.

-Punch. Prog, according to Skeat, is from prog, to go about begging victuals. Middle English prokken, to beg or demand ; Swedish

pracka. Proggins (university), proctor.

The proctors and their subordinates, the pro-proctors, are the

magistrates of the university. Prog, to (printers), an abbrevia

tion much used by printers for the word "prognosticate.” “To prog the winner of the Derby,”

&c. Promossing (Australian popular),

talking rubbish, playing the fool, mooning about. Prompter (school), a member of

the second form at Merchant

Taylors' School. Proms (London and American),

promenade concerts. They go to the Proms, to a tartlet they'll a

speak, Stand one drink, the reason is not far to

seek, For all this is done on a sovereign a week! 'Tis the way of the world, of the age.

-Bird o' Freedom. They have for several years tried to abolish the proms, because it adds heavily to many students' expenses.-Chicago Tribune. Prop (thieves), a breast-pin. Pro

bably from proper (Cornwall),

Pro (popular), one of the profes

sion, an actor. (Theatrical), an actor.

Actors are astonishingly fond of abbre. viations, and herein lies most of their slang. They love to call themselves pros. -Globe.

Procession (circus), the parade or

public show is always called the procession.

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Propster (theatrical), the property master. The man whose business it is, not only to provide ordinary properties for the stage, but to prepare new ones, to make and ornament banners, to model masks, &c.

Prop, to (pugilistic), to strike.

His whole person put in Chancery, slung, bruised, fibbed, propped, fiddled, slogged, and otherwise ill-treated.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

pretty, ornamental. (Pugilistic), a blow. (Punch and Judy), the

prop, the gallows. Proper crowd (Australian up

country), particular friends, a circle, a clique, dependants. An Australian would describe Harcourt, Childers, Labouchere, Conybeare & Co., as Gladstone's own proper crowd ; Lord Carrington, the Duke of Sutherland, Mr. Christopher Sykes, &c., as being the Prince of Wales's proper crowd; and would talk of Lord Wolseley's proper crowd as Englishmen talk of his “gang,” or apply the term to the Browning Society, &c.

Insolent and overbearing, his own proper crowd detested him.-A. C. Grant. Proper first class (popular) de

notes excellence. Prop-nailer (thieves), a thief who

devotes his attention to scarfpins in a crowd.

Props (theatrical), properties. All

the inanimate objects or articles used in a play, viz., stage carpet, baize, sea cloth, furniture, any. thing to eat or drink, books, pictures, vases, statuettes, lamps, fire-irons, fireplace, kettle, pens, ink, paper, swords, foils, guns, pistols, powder, blue fire, thunder, lightning, purse, money, table-cloth, dinner or breakfast service, &c. Certain animate objects, such as horses, pigs, dogs, and babies. Props include everything kept in the theatre for use on the stage.-Globe.

Pross, to (theatrical), to sponge.

Doubtless derived from the Ro. many prass. The actors, however, affect to derive this detestable word from a line in Otway's play of “Venice Preserved,” in which that “dashing, gay, boldfaced villain" Pierre says, “The clock has struck, and I may lose my proselyte.” The wealthy proselyte of dogma is always under the thumb of the proselytiser, who invariably makes his pupil “shell out” for the good of the cause. Similarly, the lowest class of players have, from time immemorial, been accustomed to sponge upon their proselytes, to bleed them in money or malt. The handsome but infamous “Scum" Goodman, the actor, the amant de cour of the notorious Barbara Castlemaine, bled that lubricous lady almost as freely as the illustrious Jack Churchill, or as she herself bled that anointed scoundrel, old Rowley, who in his turn bled the nation. There is a restaurant, not a hundred miles from a certain

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of imprisonment for a week and under is inflicted, without relegation to a military prison.

Prowl, to (theatrical), waiting for

one's pay.

fashionable theatre in the Strand, known to the initiated as “ Prossers' Avenue.” At certain times of the day this place is infested by impecunious loafers, consisting of the outcasts of all professions—actors, journalists, disbanded soldiers, unfrocked parsons, and brokendown adventurers of every de scription, all of whom make it their business to pross for anything, from a fiver down to a glass of gin or beer. The attentions of these enterprising gentry are not restricted to their own immediate circle ; they are superior to vulgar prejudice, and will pross anything from anybody, more especially from “the stranger at their gates."

This term is common among workmen and others. Are you one for a pross? Will you stand

a drink? But now I've grown to man's estate, for

work I've never cared, I've prossed my meals from off my pals, ofttimes I've badly fared.

-Music Hall Song.

Pruff (Winchester College), ex

plained by quotation. But deprive a Wykehamist of words in constant use, such as “quill,” meaning to curry favour with; pruf, signifying sturdy, or proof against pain; “spree," upstart, impudent;“cud," pretty, and many more, and his vocabulary becomes limited.Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Psalm-smiler (popular), one who

sings at a conventicle.

Pub (common), public-house.

Public patterers (popular), swell mobsmen, who pretend to be Dissenting preachers, and harangue in the open air to attract a crowd for their confederates to rob (Hotten).

Prosser (popular and thieves),

a degraded creature, one who sponges, a male prostitute. Said

to be from prostitute. Prov. (printers). “On the prov."

signifies that a man is out of work and reaping the benefit of the Provident Fund of his Trade Society-a fund established to

compensate the unemployed. Provost (military), garrison or

other cells, where the penalty

Puckah (Anglo - Indian). The

word is applied in various ways;
puckah in Hindostani means
properly red brick. So a pucka
house is a red brick house, and
in opposition to a “kutcha"
house, one built of earth, it is a
good, comfortable house. Hence
the meaning of good, best, at-
tached to the word. A pucka
spin is a young lady who is not
engaged, a pucka officer is a
senior officer; should an officer
in command go on leave, his
deputy is not puckah.

But I believe that marrying
An "acting" man is a fudge;

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And do not fancy anything
Below a pucka judge.

-Aleph Cheem : Lays of Ind. Pucker (military), the best of

anything, as the pucker colonel,

the senior. Vide PUCKAH. Pucker up, to (popular), to get in

a bad temper. Pudding (thieves), liver prepared

with a narcotic drug and used by burglars to silence housedogs. When I opened a door there was a great tyke lying in front of the door, so I pulled out a piece of pudding and threw it to him, but he did not move. So I threw a piece more, and it did not take any notice; so I got close up to it, and I found it was a dead dog stuffed, so I done the place for some wedge and clobber. -Hor. sley: Jottings from Jail. Pudding club (popular), a woman

in the family way is said to be in the pudding club.

(Popular), a steam-engine. And under we went, one on each side, intending to get out again, as usual, as soon as the puffer began a-taking us along again.-Sporting Times.

(Cheap Jacks, &c.), the special slang meaning is explained by quotation. We bid or praised up his goods; in fact, often acted as puffers or bonnets to give him a leg up.--Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. Pug (common), a prize-fighter.

Abbreviated from "pugilist.” He insisted, with a smile serene and

smug, That he'd gain distinction later as a fistic

gladiator,
Or, in plainer phraseology, a pug.

-Sporting Times.
A portion of Highgate Ce.
metery, where Tom Sayers,
Knacker - Atcherly, and other
pugilists lie buried, is called

“ Pugs' Acre.” Puke, to (schools), to vomit. A

variant of “spew.”

Pudding-snammer (popular), one

who robs a cookshop. Pud, to (popular), to greet affec

tionately, familiarly. Pud, the

hand. Puff (common), a favourable

notice or praise of any kind in a newspaper, usually incorporated in general reading matter. (Tailors), never in your

puff, never in your life. Puffer (boating), a small river

steamboat, a steam launch.

Puker (Shrewsbury), a good-for

nothing fellow. Pull (society), to take a pull means

to stop, check, put an end to, and is very commonly in use. It is borrowed from racing parlance, to take a pull at a horse. But it is like the will-o'-the-wisp, which is pretty sure to lead them to their destruction if they have not the moral courage to "take a pull” when they are getting out of their depth.-Saturday Review.

(Cricketers), to make a pull is to hit a straight ball crookedly. This is generally done intentionally. (Popular), the pull,

These are the lolling idlers in those comfortable floating hotels, which are called steam-launches by the literate, and puffers by the river folk.-Daily Tele

graph.

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squeezer, a man who is always

fondling young girls. Pulling a kite (popular), making

a face, looking serious. Literally, looking like a kite or fool, or alluding to the fixed expression in the face of a person flying a kite. Again, perhaps,

from a filthy simile. My mug, mate, was made for a larf, and you don't ketch it pulling a kite.

-Punch.

Pulling in the pieces (popu

lar), to make money, get good wages, or be successful in speculation.

the advantage. To have the
upper - hand in pulling a rope
gives an extra grip, whence the
expression.
Sharpers try to pick him up,
Thinking they've a flat in tow,
But at pool he cleans them out,
All the pull's with Oxford Joe.

-Music Hall Ballad: Oxford Joe. Pull a horse's head off (racing),

to check a horse's progress so as to prevent him from winning. Pulling is done by a man leaning back and pulling at the horse's head.

The witness, pressed to explain what the meaning of pulling a horse's head off was, said that pulling must be intentional on the part of a jockey.--St. James's Gazette. Pull down your vest (American).

A few years ago, when trousers were not made quite so high as at present, and waistcoats were shorter, it often happened that a portion of the shirt became visible from the latter garment “rising.” Hence the frequent admonition of pull down your vest from careful mothers to their sons, or of wives to careless husbands. The phrase soon became general, and took the obvious application of “make yourself look decenter,” “attend to your personal appearance,"

and “mind your own affairs !” Pulled trade (tailors), secured

work. Pulled up, to be (popular and

thieves), to be taken before a

magistrate. Pulley (old cant), a girl. A varia

tion of pullet, a girl. Pullet

Pull off, to (popular), to achieve,

make.

The burglar is flush of money, and each of his comrades knows that a big job has been pulled off.-Evening News.

Pull one's self together, to (common), used as a metaphorical expression for collecting one's thoughts, or cooling one's self down from a previous state of excitement. To “pull up," to cease, to refrain. These phrases are constantly used by lady novelists, though not by any writer of high or deserved repute.

That Lord Hartington's speech outdid the utmost expectations of his friends, in regard to its matter and its fearless outspokenness, is everywhere acknowledged. Here and there it was delivered admirably, and with something of the large manner demanded by his great position. But, truth to say, this was not by any means maintained uniformly, and he frequently seened only by an effort to pull himself together.—The World.

Pull_Push.

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Pull out, to (sporting), in athle

tics, is being thoroughly “extended "-usually by a friendly pacemaker. (American), to leave, depart.

For a minute or two they stood looking at one another, and then Doc pulled out. -F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.

gentle puncher that it has become a standing quotation in New Mexico.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Pun-paper (Harrow), specially

ruled paper for puns or imposi

tions. Punting-shop (common), a gam

bling house. Pupe (Harrow), pupil-room. Pure cussedness. Vide CUSSED

NESS.

Pull the leg, to (society), to im

pose upon, to cram one.

Pull the long bow, to (common),

to tell falsehoods, cram. “Don't it strike you, Billiam, that chaps about to be hanged generally do pull the long bow a bit?”

“It does, Alexandry,” replied the RedHanded One. “ If they had kept Percy Lefroy bottled up much longer, he'd have sworn he murdered Maria Martin, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Lane, and the Mystery at Rainham."-Ally Sloper's HalfHoliday. Pull the string, to (tailors), to

make use of all your influence to obtain the desired result. (Popular), to do well.

Pull, to (common), to drink.

(Turf), to prevent a horse from winning by pulling at the reins.

Pure-pickers (street), pickers up

of dogs' dung, which is sold to

curriers. Purge (popular), beer, from its

peculiar effects.
Comrades, listen while I urge,
Drink yourselves and pass the purge.

-Barrack Room Poet. Purko (military), beer; possibly

from Barclay & Perkins, the

great brewers. Purl, purler (schools), a jump

into the water head foremost. (Sporting), a heavy fall from a horse. Purser's grins (nautical), hypo

critical and satirical sneers. Purser's name (nautical), an

assumed one. During the war, when pressed men caught at every opportunity to desert, they adopted aliases to avoid discovery if retaken, which alias was handed to the purser for entry upon the ship's books

(Smyth). Push (prison), a gang associated

in penal servitude labour.

Pumped (common), exhausted. Pump sucker (popular), a tee

totaller.

Puncher (American), a cowboy,

one who punches and brands cattle.

Perhaps you find it impossible to bring yourself to eat with “aw-cow-servants, you know," as certain young Englishmen, but newly come from college to New Mexico, and unpurged as yet of old world prejudices, found it not long ago. The title "cow-servants" so delighted the

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petrate, so as to cause his failure or detection” (Vaux's Memoirs).

Put a head on, to (American), to

beat a man on the head. To make one's head swell. Und he gets madt und says he put some heads on me if I doan' gif oop dot twenty. Vhell, I vhas a greenhorn und a fool, you know.-Detroit Free Press.

Most of these pseudo-aristocratic impostors had succeeded in obtaining admission to the stocking-knitting party, which, in consequence, became known among the rest of the prisoners as the “upper ten push."--Michael Davitt : Leaves from a Prison Diary.

(Thieves), a crowd ; an association for a robbery or swindle. “I am in this push,” I intend to participate. (Shopmen), to get the push, to be discharged. (Popular), to get the push, to be

set aside, rejected, discharged. The girl that stole my heart has given me

the push. -Ballad: I'll Say no More to Mary Ann. Pusher (popular), a high-low or blucher boot. Also a female. A square pusher is a girl of good reputation. (American), a bit of bread held by children in the left hand to be used as a fork.

Put-away, to (prison), has the

same sense as the foregoing ; it means to split or peach, or so act that a man is discovered

through the information given. Put in a hole, to (thieves), to

defraud an accomplice of his share of the booty. Also “to put in the garden,” possibly an allusion to “plant,” meaning swindle. (Common), to defraud any one for whom you are acting confidentially, to victimise.

There was a class of people who if they were advised to put £10 on a horse which won thought the man a good fellow who told them, but if they lost thought they had been robbed or put in a hole.-St. James's Gazette. Put in the well, to (thieves), to

defraud an accomplice of his share of the booty, or to defraud any one for whom one is acting confidentially.

Push your barrow (popular), go

away.

Puss, an appellation given by

Woolwich cads to gentlemen cadets of the Royal Military Academy, formerly called pussies, when their uniform coats were short jackets with a pointed tail in rear, as may be seen in old pictures at the R.A. Institution, Woolwich.

Put a down upon a man, to

(Australian convicts), is to in. form against him. Probably introduced into Australia by the transportees.

“To put a down upon a man is to give information of any robbery or fraud he is about to per

Put it up, to (American), to spend

money, to gamble. “Bully for you, Squito!” cried Joe. "When it comes to gambling he's a thoroughbred; he puts it up as if it was bad.”—F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Put me in my little bed (Ameri

can), one of many current slang expressions signifying that the

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one addressed is beaten or distanced, or has no more to say. Also the name of a “fancy”

drink. Putney, oh, go to (popular),

equivalent to go to Jericho,
Ballyhock, or any other of the
numerous milder modifications
of the place of eternal punish-
ment. Sometimes improved by
adding “on a pig."
Sarah's gone and left me,

Her love for me was sham,
She can go to Putney on a pig,
Along with her cat's-meat man !

-The Cat's-Meat Man. Put one's back into it, to (com.

mon), to act with energy.

It seems to me that if I only hit hard enough I must do something. I put my back into it -- that's his expression, not mine-and two balls disappear into two pockets.-Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday Put one's back up, to. Vide

BACK.
Put on, to (common), to initiate.
Once on the course he will undertake

To put you on should you be
Green at the game, but the quids you stake

Never again you'll see. Or perhaps near a bookie like a clerk he'll

stand, And gonoph any tickets that may reach

his hand. – Bird o' Freedom. Putter up (thieves), a spy in the

interest of burglars, whose business it is to collect and impart information to the gang with which he is connected as to thegeneral condition and domestic arrangements of houses that may be most easily robbed, and that offer the greatest chances of plunder. The putters up are

commonly men of glib tongues and agreeable manners, who endeavour to ingratiate themselves with the female servants. They seldom endanger their own necks by active participation in the burglaries they recommend, but are content to receive a portion of the booty, trusting to the validity of the wellknown axiom of “honour among thieves” for the reward which they have earned. They are worse, but not very much worse, than the professional detectives who do similarly dirty work for people who are not burglars or criminals, but who do not scruple to employ such disreputable

agents. Put the kibosh on, to (popular),

to put a stop to. Vide KIBOSH. Put the pot on, to (popular), to

punish, to extinguish.
And Damon Tubbs, who loved in vain

The self-same damsel, lots
Of times declared with racking brain
He'd put the pot on Potts.

-Fun.
(Turf), to lay heavily on a
horse.
Putting a nail in your coffin

(tailors), talking ill of you. Puttun (Anglo-Indian), a regi

ment.
Putty and plaster on the Solomon

Knob, the (masons, &c.), an
intimation that the master is

coming, be silent!
Putty walla (Anglo-Indian), “the

one with a belt," a term in

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Bombay for a messenger or orderly attached to an office. Called in Bengal a Chuprassy, and in Madras a Peon (AngloIndian Glossary).

Put up, betrayal. Hotten limits this simply to inspecting or planning a robbery, or obtaining information in regard to projected theft. But this is very far from the true meaning of the word as used in both England and America. It is thus explained in the “New York Slang Dictionary:”

“Put up. This refers to information given to thieves by persons in the employment of parties to be robbed, such as servants, clerks, porters, &c., whereby the thief is facilitated in his operations. A job is said to be put up if the porter of a store should allow a 'fitter' to take an impression of the keys of the door of a safe; or when a clerk sent to the bank to make a deposit, or to draw money, allows himself to be thrown down and robbed, in order to have his pocket picked.”

It may be observed that it is quite in this sense that Dickens uses the word in “Oliver Twist," and not at all in that of obtaining information.

by persons familiar with the inmates and contents of the house marked down for plunder.- Daily Telegraph. Put upon, to (American and Eng

lish), to impose upon, to illtreat. The Pike's Peak gold fever was raging (1859, &c.). He went to the mines and took a claim, but was much put upon by bullies because he was the youngest man in camp.--H. L. Williams : In the Wild West,

(Common), to sham. Put up your forks, or, bones up

(popular), a challenge to fight. Put up your hands, to (thieves),

to submit to being handcuffed. One of the family who has been in prison before, and knows the penalties of resistance, will say when a policeman comes for him, “All right, I'll put up my hands," meaning that he will hold out his hands to be hand

cuffed without a struggle. Put your forks down, to (thieves),

to pick a pocket. Vide FORKS. Put your name into it (tailors),

get it well forward. Pyah (nautical), weak, paltry. Pyke (military), a civilian friend

by whom the soldier on the prowl and impecunious is treated and entertained; some good-natured creature who likes to hear military yarns, and is proud of the privilege of pay. ing for a gallant man's drink. Probably from French slang word pékin, civilian, heard by English soldiers in the Crimea.

Put-up jobs (burglars), explained

by quotation.

We often hear that these burglaries are what are called put-up jobs; that is to say, they are the result of long and careful study on the part of the criminals, com. bined with information supplied to them

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Quarter-deckish (naval), severe,

punctilious.

Quartereen (shows, strolling

actors), a farthing. The slang expressions for money, used specially by Punch and Judy showmen, and probably by others, are “mezzo,” halfpenny; “solde," penny; "dui, tri, quarto or quatri, chickwa, sei, sette, oddo, novo, deger, long deger soldi. Beone,” a shilling; “ponte," a sovereign. From the Italian.

Q. H. B. (naval), Queen's hard bargain, i.e., a lazy sailor, a

“lubber.” Q. T. (popular), quiet. Vide On

THE STRICT Q. T. The essence of 'Arry, he sez, is high

sperrits. That ain't so fur out. I'm “Fiz,” not four 'arf, my dear feller.

Flare-up is my motter, no doubt. Carn't set in a corner canoodling, and do the Q. T. day and night.

-Punch.
Quack (common), a duck.
“Dear madam, your daughter

Being very much better,
Instead of a call I write you a letter,

Saying as a regular doctor
No longer she lacks,

I send her herewith a couple of quacks."

A splendid couple of ducks accompanied this cheerful letter.-Bird o' Freedom. Quad (printers) is the abbreviated

form of the word “quadrat," a piece of metal used by printers to fill up short lines, &c. From

Latin quadratus, square. Quadding (Rugby), the triumphal

promenade of the chief football players round the cloisters at calling over time before a match.

Quart-pot tea (Australian). The

following passage is fully explanatory of this Irish phrase for tea. Quart-pot tea, as tea made in the bush is always called, is really the proper way to make it. A tin quart of water is set down by the fire, and when it is boiling hard a handful of tea is thrown in, and the pot instantly removed from the fire. Thus the tea is really made with boiling water, which brings out its full flavour, and it is drunk before it has time to draw too much. -Finch-Hatton : Advance Australia.

Quay (American thieves), unsafe, not to be trusted. Dutch kwaed, bad, &c.

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Queen's bus (thieves), the prison

van. A crazy inmate of Clerkenwell was about to be sent away. To quiet him the warder said the Queen had sent one of her own carriages for him. “One of them with We R. on the side ?” “ Yes, one of her carriages.” “ Wot’s We R. stand for?” “ Why, Victoria Regina, of course.” “No, it don't ; it stands for Wagabones Removed,” said the prisoner. The V.R. on the van is also interpreted by its habitual occupants as standing for Virtue

Rewarded. Queer bail, fraudulent bail ; in

solvent persons who made it a trade to bail out persons when arrested. Also called “Jew bail.” Sometimes also “moun. ters," as the mounted borrowed clothes for the occasion so as

to look respectable. Queer bit (thieves), spurious coin.

Queer, in old cant, means any. thing wrong, counterfeit, or illegal. Possibly allied to the German quer, across, athwart,

", across, athwart, contrary to. Queer cuffin (old cant), magistrate.

The gentry cove will be romboyled by his dam, . . . queer cuffin will be the word yet, if we don't tout. --Beaconsfield: Venetia.

Cuffin is synonymous with cofe, cove. Queer money (thieves), spurious

coin.

That town had been worked with a rush by a gang and $20,000 in the queer

money had been left there inside of two
days.- Detroit Free Press.
Queer rooster (American thieves),

a man that lodges among thieves
to pick up information for the
police.
Queer soft (thieves), bad notes.
Queer street, in (common), in a

difficulty. Queer the stifler, to (thieves),

avoid the gallows. I think Handie Dandie and I may queer the stifler for all that is come and gone.Scott: Heart of Mid-Lothian. Queer, to (popular), to ridicule,

sneer at. A shoulder-knotted puppy, with a grin, Queering the thread-bare curate, let him in.

- Colman: Poetical Vagaries.
To spoil, mar.
But over the doorstep she happened to

trip,
And queered the ingenious crime.

-Sporting Times. To upset arrangements. The Briton threw a five-franc piece into the machine, stopping the ball, and utterly queering the calculations of the numerous systematicians.-Bird o' Freedom.

To queer a flat, fool, impose upon a simpleton. Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, Booze in the ken, or at the spelken hustle ? Who queer a flat?

-Lord Byron : Don Juan. To outwit. He came back in great glee at having queered the bobbies on this side the Channel, and “bothered the gendarmes” on the other.-Punch.

To queer the pitch, vide PITCH.

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Quencher. Vide MODEST

QUENCHER.

Qui (printers), an abbreviation of

the Latin term quietus, an old expression equivalent to the “ billet” or “sack,” to denote a man has notice to leave his situation.

Quid (general), a sovereign.

Quids, money in general ; this corresponds to the French de quoi and quibus. Oh, well, I thought I wouldn't star, but

wait a year or two; I know your party's solid, so I'll try and

go with you. A modest forty quid a week, you pay all

train fares, eh? Your offer is an insult and I'll leave you, sir. Good day.

— Bird o' Freedom.
'Tis the last quid of many

Left sadly alone,
All its golden companions

Are changed, and are gone;
No coin of its kindred,

No “fiver" is here,
To burn in tobacco,
Or melt into beer. -Fun.

Quiblets (American), a kind of

witticism much in vogue in negro minstrelsy. A man makes a remark which calls forth a question, and the reply involves a jesting equivoque.

Quick (society), explained by

quotation. Young Prince Albert Vic., it would seem,

is most quick (That's the new word for dapper and clever).

-Fun.

Quick, slick, to cut (popular), to

start off hurriedly.

Quick upon the trigger (Ameri

can), very acute to observe, quick to perceive and act, wideawake, prompt, “fly.” A significant expression derived from seeing game the instant it appears, and being quick to shoot it. It occurs in the Crockett Almanacs, 1838, 1840, but is much older.

Quiff (military), the small curl on

a soldier's temple just showing under his glengarry or forage cap. Close-cropped hair is one of the indispensable conditions of military smartness, but the curl used to be allowed, or in lieu of it a false curl which was gummed inside the forage cap so as to lie on the forehead. This postiche was especially in favour with men just released from military prison.

(Tailors), a word used in expressing an idea that a satisfactory result may be obtained by other than strictly recognised

rules or principles. Quiffing in the press (tailors),

changing a breast-pocket to the

other side. Quiffing the bladder (tailors),

drawing the long hair over to hide a bald pate.

He's as big and may be bigger,

That's all the same to me ; But I'm quicker on the trigger,

And hit twice as hard as he. For I've lived among the Crows and the

Kaws, And the Soos and the Kroos and the

Daws, And can make a bully Injun take a tree !

-Circus Song.

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Quill-driver-Quot.

Quill-driver (common), a writer.

(Turf), a bookmaker. The annual cricket match between the Press and the Jockeys will be played to. day on the Queen's Club Ground, West Kensington, and my information is to the effect that the quill-drivers are likely to have the best of the willow-wielding and leather-flapping engagement with the knights of the pigskin.-Sporting Times.

Quite too nice (society), expression much used by the aesthetic female portion of society, meaning much the same as “awfully jolly,” ästhetic conversation being largely composed of many adverbs and adjectives strung together. “He is really quite too nice," applied to some dieaway gentleman with long hair and black velvet coat, who dabbles in art, and who worships a sunflower, regarding it in the light of the most artistic production of nature.

Quiller (common), a parasite; a

person who sucks neatly through

a quill, says Hotten. Quill, to (Winchester College), to

curry favour with, to latter.

Quilster (Winchester College), a

flatterer. Vide To QUILL.

Quilt, to (popular), to thrash. Much used by tailors. Probably

originally a tailor's phrase. Quint (American cowboy), a

whip (Spanish). Quisby (popular). Hotten defines this as bankrupt. According to a song “sung with terrific success by Miss Kate Con. stance” it appears to have a

slightly different meaning :When tars have been away on a voyage

o'er the sea, They're glad to get home again to have

a jolly spree, But when they kiss and cuddle you and

won't let you be, Don't it make you feel quisby in the

morning?

Quius kius (low theatrical), hush!

cease! A warning. Quiz (legal), among American

law-students a weekly examination in reading is so called. It

is equivalent to coaching. Quod (thieves), prison. Probably

from the Hindu gypsy quaid, prison. Also said to be from “quadrangle,” within four walls. Here I have been in and out of quod for the last five-and-twenty stretch, and I have a right to get a good billet if any. body has one.-Evening News. Quodded (thieves), imprisoned. Quodger (legal), a corruption of

quo jure. Quot (old slang), a man who

interferes in household affairs, especially in the kitchen.

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Rack (Canadian), on the rack,

constantly moving about, travelling; “always on the rack” is synonymous with “always on the move." Rack is an abbreviation of “racket,” a Canadian snow-shoe.

RABBIT (American), a very

rough, raging rowdy. Generally heard as “dead rabbit.” From a gang of roughs who paraded New York in 1848, carrying a dead rabbit as a standard, the dead rabbit meaning a conquered enemy. Also “dead duck.” “A very athletic rowdy fellow; an extinct political party.” Rabbitsuckers, young spendthrifts, fast,

licentious young men. Rabbit-pie (popular), a low word

for a woman in a sensual or carnal sense; a prostitute.

Racket. Originally meaning in

England a dodge, maneuvre, or desire, it has within a few years been greatly extended in the United States, so that one can rarely look through certain newspapers without finding it.

You know all the safe-workers arrested here last season were lodging-house bums, and they were up to that racket.-Chicago Tribune.

The place was pretty full of all the blackguards in creation then on the same racket.-O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail.

Rabbit-pie shifter (roughs), a

policeman. Probablyan allusion to his impeding prostitutes' trade. Vide RABBIT-PIE. Never to take notice of vulgar nicknames, such as “slop," "copper," rabbitpie shifter, “peeler.”—Music Hall Song. Rabbit-skin (University), by

synecdoche, is the academical hood adorned both at Oxford and Cambridge by the rabbit's white fur. To “get one's rabbitskin,” is to take the B.A. degree.

Baclon parklap (tramnel from

the gypsy räkli, a girl.

Rabid beast (American cadet), a

term applied to a new cadet whọ is impertinent, i.e., according to the views of those who have

been longer in residence. Rabitter (Winchester College), a blow on the head with the wide of the hand, so called from the way of killing a rabbit.

Rads (common), for radicals.

“The Rads have a name of more modern political application, for the term 'Radical,' as a party name, was first applied to Major Cartwright, Henry Hunt, and their associates in 1818. The Americans have many more or less strange nicknames, and one of the last invented has reached this country, only to be in various ways misapplied and misunderstood, we mean the euphonious word mugwump" (Cornhill Magazine).

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He turned him round and right-about

All on the Irish shore,
Said he, “We'll give P-rn-ll a shake,
And make the Rads to roar,

My boy!
And make the Rads to roar!”

-Punch.

Rafe, ralph (popular), a pawn

broker's duplicate (Hotten). Raft (American), a great number

or quantity of anything or of any kind of objects. It is derived from the rafts or vast accumulations of floating timber, driftwood, &c., which sometimes form in Western American rivers.

Rag (popular), the green curtain.

Hence the gods shout “Up with the rag." (Common), a contemptuous term for a newspaper of the inferior sort. The French call this “feuille de chou.”

A writer in a penny rag, who has him. self failed far more lamentably than Mrs.

-, and in the same attempt, viz., to entertain the public. -Sporting Times.

(Thieves), a bank-note.

Abbreviated from “it takes the rag off the bush.” Rag out, to (American), to dress

up well. Wall, don't make fun of our clothes in the papers. We are goin' right straight through in these here clothes-we air. We ain't agoin' to rag out till we get to Nevady.-Artemus Ward. Rag proper, to (cowboys), to

dress well. Rags (American), bank-bills.

Before the war, when there was
no uniform currency, the bills
of the innumerable banks of
the “wild cat,” “ blue pup," and
“ees' dog” description often
circulated at a discount of 50
or 60 per cent., and in a very
dirty and tattered condition.
These were familiarly called
rags, a word still used now and
then as a synonym for paper-
money.
Oh, times are hard ! folks say,

And very well too we know it ;
And therefore the best way

Is while you're young to go it.
The banks are all clean broke,

Their rags are good for naught,
The specie's all bespoke,

So certainly we ought
To go it while we're young.

-Song of 1840. (Common), to go rags, to share. Rags and sticks (travelling show

men), explained by quotation.

When old Sawny Williams, the proprietor, came later in the morning, he was horrified at finding his rags and sticks, as a theatrical booth is always termed, just as he had left them the overnight.Hindbey: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

Rag-fair (military), kit inspection,

at which all the necessaries, shirts, socks, underclothing, the

“rags,” in short, are displayed. Ragged brigade, the 50th Irish

regiment of foot.

In his youth he did good service abroad with the Carabineers, the ragged brigade, and the Springers.—The World. Rag off (Americanism), explained

by quotation. Well, if that don't “cap all!” That beats the bugs; it does fairly take the rag off.Sam Slick: The Clockmaker.

Rag-shop-Raise.

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Rag-shop (thieves), a bank.

Vide RAG.

Rain napper (popular), an um

brella. To nap, to take, seize, receive.

Rag-splawger(thieves), a wealthy

man. Vide RAG. Rag stabber (common), a tailor. Rag tacker (popular), a dress

maker.

Rag, the (London), explained by

quotation.

There is not a single music-hall, from the vast “Alhambra" in Leicester Square, to the unaristocratic establishment in the neighbourhood of the Leather Lane, originally christened the “Rag-lan," but more popularly known as the “ Rag,” that I have not visited. . And I am bound to confess that the same damning elements are discoverable in one and all.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Raise a bead, to (American), to

aim at, to make sure of. The sight of a rifle is called a bead, hence the term. “To raise a bead on him," to take aim at him. Bartlett defines the same phrase as to bring to a head, to succeed, and adds that the figure is taken from brandy, rum, or other liquors which will not raise a bead unless of

the proper strength. Raised bill (American), a bank

bill which has had the value raised or increased by pasting over it slips cut from other and worthless bills.

A couple of young men entered M. Levin & Co.'s saloon, Jefferson and Bardell Streets, called for drinks, and tendering what appeared to be a $20 bill in pay. ment received the change and left. After they had gone the bill was found to be a clumsily-raised $10. The numbers of a Confederate $20 bill had been pasted over the figures in the corners, while a strip of paper stuck across the “X” on the back gave the bill the appearance of having been pasted together and partially concealed the fact that there was only a single “X.”-Chicago Tribune.

Rag, to (American University).

Hall quotes a correspondent of
Union College as follows:

“To rag and “ragging' you will find of very extensive application, they being employed primarily as expressive of what is called by the vulgar thieving and stealing, but in a more ex tended sense as meaning superiority. Thus if one declaims or composes much better than his classmates, he is said to rag all his competitors.”

(English provincial), to abuse, slander. At English universities to annoy, hustle. For other signification vide BALLYRAG, its

synonym. Rag trade, the (tailors), the

tailoring business. Also the
mantle-making trade.
VOL. II.

Raise the wind, to (common), an

almost recognised phrase. To procure money by borrowing,

pawning, or otherwise. In lieu of a calf! It was too bad by half! At a "nigger" so pitiful who would not

laugh And turn up their noses at one who could

find No decenter method of raising the wind?

-Ingoldsby Legends.

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Raising an organ (tailors), club

bing clips together to raise a

shilling's worth. Rake (popular), a comb. Rake an X, to (American Univer

sity), to recite perfectly. Rake in, to (American), to acquire,

win, conquer, make one's own. From the very obvious simile of using a rake of any kind to draw objects together. “Yes,” said Tim, with a mournful shake of the head, “ Pug's converted. I suppose you've been to the revival meetings of Goodman and Worship. No! Well, you've met Mike Ratagan on Groghan Street ? Don't know Mike ! Well, they've raked him in too.”—Luke Sharp. Raker (turf), a heavy bet.

It is said the “new plunger" is standing the favourite for a raker.-Bird o' Freedom.

To go a raker, to make a heavy bet.

to haunt men when they will not conform to chapel rules. (See Dr. Franklin's “Waps,” 1819, p. 56.) A man is “sent to Coventry” if he dares to defy the decision of the chapel, and many tricks are played on him by his companions in con

sequence. Vide RAFE. Ram (American University), a

practical joke, a hoax. Rama Sammy (Anglo - Indian),

used as a generic name for all Hindoos, like Tommy Atkins for a British soldier. A twisted roving of cotton in a tube used to furnish light for a cigar. The name Ramo Samee was popularised in 1820 in England by a Hindoo juggler, who first

exhibited swallowing a sword. Ramcat or rancat cove (thieves),

a man dressed in furs. Ramjam (American), the last morsel eaten after which one

is filled to repletion. Ramp (common). This word,

when applied to swindling and cheating, e.g., "rampage,” thieving and taking in, is evidently of a different origin from ramp, to rage, rear up, and act with violence. It is possibly in the former sense allied to the Yiddish rame, a deceiver or cheat; Chaldaic ramons, deceit. Ramp, to rage, occurs in several old English writers, e.g., Jonson. These, it is only fair to say, were mostly ramps, or swindles, got up to obtain the gate-money, and generally interrupted by

Rake the pot, to (American), to take the stakes at gambling.

The artist sat and drew:
No view of frozen Arctic shores,
Where icy billow sweeps and roars;
Nor Southern desert, Western plain,
Nor colours of the Spanish Main-
Nor vision of celestial spot-
He drew an ace, and raked the pot!

-St. Louis Whip. Rally (common), a row, a fight,

a spill. (Theatrical), the rally, the movement by clown, pantaloon, harlequin, and columbine after transformation scene.

Ralph (printers), the mischief

monger or "spirit” that is said

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circumstances arranged beforehand by those who were going to “cut up” the plunder.-George R. Sims: How the Poor Live.

(Thieves), the hall mark on plate. From the rampant lion which is one of the marks.

They told me all about the wedge, how
I should know it by the ramp.-Horsley :
Jottings from Jail.

Vide ON THE RAMPAGE.

Ramper (common), a low fellow,

a swindler or ruffian who frequents racecourses, generally on welshing expeditions. Hardly a day passes without some miscreant being charged at police courts, and being recognised by constables as a “welsher," ramper, or “ticket snatcher.” These are criminal trades, belonging essentially to the racecourse.-Sporting Times.

mail in a brutal manner. From

to ramp, to spring with violence. Ramping mad (old), uproariously

drunk. Rampoman (thieves), one who

plunders by force. In Mayhew's “Criminal Prisons of London," but obsolete now. Rams, the (American), the deli

rium tremens. “To have the rams," to be extremely eccen

tric. Ram, to (American), to ram one's

face in, or on; to intrude, to

force oneself into any company. Rance sniffle (Texas), mean and

dastardly malignity. Peculiar

to Georgia. Randlesman (thieves), silk pocket

handkerchief, green ground with

white spots.
Random, three horses driven in a

line;—“Harum-scarum” being
four horses driven in a line

(Hotten).
Ranker (military), an officer who

has risen from the ranks.

Ramping (thieves), explained by

quotation. George Stamper was charged, on remand, with felony, technically known as ramping, i.e., calling at the houses where parcels had just been delivered from tradesmen to customers, and obtaining possession of them under various pretences.Standard.

(Sports), a swindle, a conspiracy.

The ramping of the Jubilee Plunger at pigeon shooting at Brighton is still the principal topic of conversation. Whether Mr. — will pay up and look pleasant, or repudiate, or prosecute the different parties for conspiracy is more than I can say.-Sporting Times.

Also vide To RAMP.

Rank outsider (common), a vulgar

fellow, a cad. From a racing term applied to a horse outside the rank.

A rank outsider might possibly drop from the clouds-just at the bell but it is hardly possible that Grandison, or Love. gold, or Lourdes, or Florentine, or Stetchworth, or any other “ranker" can be the horse. --Sporting Ranks (printers). A compositor

that has been promoted to the

Ramp, to (thieves), to steal forci

bly from the person. (Sporting), to swindle, but more especially to bet against one's own horse. Also to levy black

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when not employed for the purpose of testing horseflesh, is regarded rather as an expression of contempt than of admiration. --Sporting Times.

The allusion is to a grating noise like that produced by

rasping. Raspberry tart (American), a nice

dainty girl. Raspberry tart, with a little poke bonnet, And a great big bunch of thingamies upon

it, With a pinafore dress that was just the

thing, And a little pug dog at the end of a string.

-Broadside Ballad.

position of overseer or reader is said to return to the ranks again should he be reduced. Attributed by Savage, 1841, to thefact that compositors' frames are placed in ranks or rows. More probably from a military

term. Ran-tan(popular), to be on theran

tan (originally American) is to “ be on the big drunk,” to be in a fit of drunkenness extending over several days, or it may be weeks, after a period of enforced abstinence. Possibly from provincial ranter, a large beer jug. The word appears in the works of Taylor, the Water-poet, in 1630. Also “ran-ran,” frolic, drunkenness. My second son's been made a Buff, and goes on the ran-ran.-Broadside Ballad.

On the ran-tan also means drunk. Rapparee (old slang), a Tory. Rap, to (thieves), to talk, to say.

From “rap out."

So I said, “All right;" but he rapped, “It is not all right.”—Horsley: Jotting's from Jail.

To swear.
D— me! I scorn to rap against any
lady.-Fielding: Amelia.
Raspberry (coachmen), explained

by quotation.
One gentleman I came across had a way
of finding out the cussedness of this or
that animal by a method that I found to
be not entirely his own. The tongue is
inserted in the left cheek and forced
through the lips, producing a peculiarly
squashy noise that is extremely irritating.
It is termed, I believe, a raspberry, and

Rasper (Stock Exchange), a big

“turn,” i.e., a large profit on a

bargain. Raspin (old cant), the bridewell.

So called from the task there of rasping wood.

Rasping shorter (cricketers), a

ball which swiftly slides along the ground when knocked off by the bat, instead of rebounding.

Rat (old cant), a clergyman.

“Ratichon” is a very common slang name for a priest in France. (Common), a sneak, informer, turncoat. Also an abbreviation of water-rat. (Nautical), an infernal machine for blowing up insured ships for the purpose of defrauding ship insurance companies.

There are two species of rats. One species is intended to operate upon iron ships, the other upon wooden ones. — Times.

(Printers), a workman that accepts work or wages at un

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capitalist whom he described as a "slabsided, bung-eyed hyena,” and he said also that the capitalist had rats.-C. Leland Harrison: MS. Collection of Americanisms.

fair rates—not paid according to the existing scale of prices

recognised in the locality. Rat house, rat shop (printers), an

office where unfair wages are paid—the employés being called

"rats,” or “furry tails.” Rats (popular), to "give a person

green rats” is to backbite him. “ To be in the rats," to be suffering from drink; to have or see rats, the incipient stage of delirium tremens (see Zola's L'Assonimoir). (Common), “to have rats in one's garret,” to be soft-brained, silly, or idiotic.

“Say, mimmaw," Miss Arethusa remarked, “what's gettin' into you lately. You've got rats in your garret, haven't

you?”

"No, I haven't anny rats in me garret. ur in me brain, aither, me foine lady," said the widow indignantly-New York Mercury.

(American), “to have rats,” to have wild or eccentric fancies; a synonym for “rams,” or other animals seen by men with delirium tremens.

The word rat stands as an opprobrious epithet applied to persons suddenly changing their opinions. Hence the term “ratted," which has become so common in late years. Sir Robert Peel seems to have been the first noted person to whom the term rat was applied, and he brought the epithet upon himself by changing his opinions on Catholic Emancipation. Some of our Western editors use the word rats in a way unknown to M. Barrère. For example, if one editor takes a flippant view of what another regards as a grave question, the latter at once declares that “our contemporary has rats ;” and sometimes it will be added that “he has got them bad.” Dennis Kearney, of Sand Lots fame, wrote, some years ago, of a certain California

Ratted (common), applied to a

“rat," i.e., a turncoat. Rattled, to get (American), to

become nervous, shaky, to lose presence of mind. Anarchist August Vincent Theodor Spies was the next witness. Spies was a failure. He got rattled. He was nervous and fidgety while trying to be smart, and both in his manner and in his damaging admissions he was the worst witness the defence has yet called.-Chicago Tribune.

She lifted up another shovelful, but the exertion caused her to slip, and she got rattled.-Detroit Free Press. Rattler (old cant), a coach.

(Thieves), a railway train. As soon as he got round a double, I guyed away to Malden, and touched for two wedge teapots, and took the rattler to Waterloo. - Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(American), a neck-tie. It is a very curious coincidence that so far back as 1831 a comic writer spoke of a very great swell as one who

"Is on fashion leading-tattler,

And his tie's a real rattler," and that recently in America cravats are made of rattlesnakes'

skins. Rattle, to give the (American

thieves), to talk to a man so as to divert his attention, as, for instance, while robbing him. To confuse by talking. “Give him the rattle with your mouth all the time you're working him," said Mr

166

Rattling-Reader.

Sutton. “Tell him he mustn't fall asleep in a public place.”—Confidence Crooks : Philadelphia Press.

Platos for kaurin,

Lasho for chorin,
The pūtsī avri a boro rawnee "-

“Two gypsies were transported, transported across the great water, Plato for pilfering, Lewis for stealing the pocket from a great lady.”

Rattling (general), jolly, excel

lent, smart, as rattling bait, first-class food, excellent eating.

That's my plan. Give 'em bumping weight (with the little finger in) and shout, “There you are, all that lot for tuppence, it's rattling bait !” and they swallers it like jam.-S. May: Hurrah for a Coster's Life!

Rattling gloke (old cant), a coach

man.

Rawniel, runniel (tinker), beer,

Trīpo-rauniel, a pot of beer. Razor (American University), a

pun. Many of the members of this timehonoured institution, from whom we ought to expect better things, not only do their own shaving but actually make their own razors. But I must explain for the benefit of the uninitiated. A pun in the elegant college dialect is called a razor, while an attempt at a pun is styled a sick razor. The sick ones are by far the most numerous; however, once in a while you meet with one in quite respectable health. -Yale Literary Magazine.

Rat-trap (popular), a woman's

bustle.

Rawg (tinker), a waggon.

Raw lobsters (common), a nick

pame at one time applied to policemen. It was originated about fifty years ago by the Weekly Despatch, and was derived from the blue coats of the then new force. Soldiers had previously been called, and were then known, as lobsters, from their red coats, and as when caught and previous to boiling a lobster is of a dark bluish hue, the policemen were called raw lobsters to distinguish them from soldiers.

Reacher (pugilistic), a blow.
And our pugilistic hero felt his courage go

to zeroj When the stranger started making

matters snug, By landing sundry reachers on our hero's

classic featuresOr, in plainer phraseology, his “mug."

-Sporting Times.

Reach-me-downs, handme - downs (common), clothes bought at second-hand shops. In French “ décrochez-moi ça.” The phrase has now the more extended meaning of readymade articles as opposed to those made to order.

Rawnie. This word, according

to Hotten, is the gypsy for a young woman. It has, however, no such meaning in Romany, where it is invariably applied to a lady. From the Hindustani

rānee, a queen. “Dui Romany chals were bitchadey pardel.

Bitchadey parlo boro pānī.

Read and write (thieves' rhyming

slang), flight. Also to fight.

Reader (thieves and tinker), a

letter, book, newspaper.

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He rubbed his hands so strongly on a man's body that anything in the shape of a piece of thread, a pencil, or a bit of reader (newspaper) could be discovered, but he never looked at the handkerchief which was dangled loosely between the thumb and forefinger.-Evening News.

Also a pocket-book. “Agreed,” replied the tinker; "but first let's see wot he has got in his pockets.”

"Vith all my 'art,” replied the sandman, searching the clothes of the victim. “A reader !—I hope it's well lined." -Ains. worth: Auriol.

Ready thick 'un (thieves and

others), a sovereign. To his appetite still royal, he soon stormed

the Cate Royal, Where he blewed a ready thick 'un on some dinner.

- Sporting Times. Real jam. Vide JAM. "She's real jam, she is, by Jove !"-so

said the Johnny, as he strove
To make the very most of his position;
For though he in the front row sat, his

opera-glass was levelled at
The tasty choregraphic exhibition.

-Sporting Times. Ream (theatrical), good. From

ream, cream, a synonym for anything unusually good. Swetter than ani milkes rem. — Leg. Catholic, 13th century.

“Reaming,” getting on well.

(Tinkers), “you're readered sooblee,” you are put in the Police Gazette, my man; there is a description of you published.

Read, to (Stock Exchange), to

try to ascertain by the expression of a man's features what his intentions are.

Ready (common), money. Also

ready stuff. While limiting expenses in this true

Arcadian way, He borrowed all the ready which at her

disposal lay, Promising the loan he would infallibly repaySm'other time.

-Bird o' Freedom. Ready-gilt (thieves and popular),

money. Vide GILT. Readying (turf), explained by

quotation. Do you mean to say that you don't know what was meant by readying Success ?-Of course I know what it means. It means pulling.–Standard.

Reckoning up (common), talking

of, usually in a slanderous manner.

It was in the dressing-room, and they were reckoning up an absent friend in a manner peculiar to the profession.

“How anybody can consider her an actress,” sneered Tottie, “ I'm sure I can't imagine. And yet she has the temerity to call herself an artist !”

“And why not, dear?” said Lottie “I'm sure she paints very nicely!"Sporting Times. Red (stage, thieves, &c.), gold.

Same in Icelandic. In French cant jaune. In furbesche or Italian cant rossume, literally redness. (American), a cent. In French slang, a sou.

Ready-reckoners, the Highland regiments of the British army (Hotten).

Red eel (West American), an

abusive term.

“Stranger," said I, "you're a red eel!"-Crockett's Almanac.

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Red flannel (popular), the tongue. Reefing (thieves), drawing with

the fingers. “ Reefing up into Red fustian (popular), port wine.

work,” is drawing up the pocket Redge, ridge (thieves), gold. until the portemonnaie or purse

Probably from red, which see. is within reach of the fingers. Red herring (popular), a soldier. Reeler (thieves), a policeman.

“The terms,” says Hotten, “are From his rolling gait when exchangeable, the fish being

sauntering about. often called a soldier.”

One of my pals said, “There is a reeler

over there who knows me, we had better Red kettle. Vide KETTLE.

split out."—Horsley: Jottings from Jail. “What did you earn on an average by your trade as a thief?”

Reesbin (tinker), prison. “Generally from two to three pounds a week clear. You see, I laid myself out for Refresher, a fee paid to a picking pockets, and I generally got two or three 'red kettles' a week."

barrister daily in addition to “What is a red kettle?” I inquired, his retaining fee, to remind him feeling ashamed of my ignorance.

of the case intrusted to his “A red kettle is a gold watch.”—Evening

care (Dr. Brewer). News, Red lane (common), the throat. Regimental fire (military), some

particular regimental custom Red liner (beggars), an officer of

carried out after drinking a the Mendicity Society.

toast, generally on great ocRed rag (popular), the tongue, also casions.

“red flannel.” In French slang The usual loyal toasts were drunk with "le chiffon rouge."

much enthusiasm and honoured with Bah, Peter! your red rag will never be

regimental fire.-Standard. still. — Beaconsfield: Venetia.

Regulars (thieves), a thief's share Redraw (prison), back-slang for of the spoil. warder.

They were quarrelling about the reguOh, I know now! It was for shying a

lars.-Times. lump of wet oakum at the redraw.-). Greenwood : Low Life Deeps.

Reign, to (Australian prison), to

be at liberty. “A wire never Red ribbon (thieves), brandy.

reigns long," a pickpocket is Red 'un (thieves), a sovereign. not long without being appreShe observed, “You'll give me some..

hended. thing-won't you, kid ?" So the youth, her wish obeying, placed Reliever, a coat worn in turn by a coin down-gently saying

any party of poor devils whose “There's a red’un-or in other words 'a wardrobes are in pawn (Hotten).

-Sporting Times. Relieving officer (University), a Also a watch.

father.

quid !""

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Resurrection pie (common), a pie

supposed to be made of scraps and leavings.

Ret (printers), a pressman or ma

chine-minder terms the second side of a sheet or “reiteration” thus.

Remedy (Winchester School),

(quasi dies remissionis), on Tuesday or Thursday. If there was any reasonable excuse, prefect of hall used to go up to the doctor after chapel and asked if they might have a remedy. If this was granted the doctor gave him a ring (remedy ring), and there was a half-holiday, except that all who had not studied had to sit in hall from 9 to 11 A.M. There is still a remedy every Thursday in cloister time. There used formerly to be a remedy every Tuesday and Thursday, now there is only a half rem.

A holiday at Winchester is termed a remedy ...“remiday," i.e., remission day.-Pascoe : Our Public Schools.

Retree (printers), a term derived

from the French retrié, picked again, and used by printers and stationers to denote outside or bad sheets in a ream. An equivalent perhaps to the old term “Cassie” paper, quoted by Moxon, 1683. The term is indicated by stationers by two crosses ( * ).

Remi (Westminster School), re

mission from tasks.

Renovator (tailors), one who does

repairs.

Returned empty (clerical), un

charitable name for retired colonial bishops of the class that the late Bishop Blomfield described as forming the “Home

and Colonial ” Episcopate. Revelation (American), to have

a revelation, to take a drink. A phrase invented by C. F. Browne. Smith did a more flourishing business in the prophet line than Brigham Young does. Smith used to have his little revelation almost every day-sometimes two before dinner. Brigham Young only takes one once in a while.-Artemus Ward : Brigham Young.

Rent (old cant), to collect the

rent, to rob travellers on the highway. A rent collector, a robber of money only.

Reptile (American cadet), a new

cadet.

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Will you have a revelation, Mr. Jones, an outpouring of the spirit-Monongahela or brandy-I've got 'em both?-S. Courier: Hard and Fast. Reviver (common), a drink, a

“pick-me-up” or stimulant.

It was but twelve o'clock, and therefore early for revivers of any sort.—The Golden Butterfly. Reward (kennel), dogs' or bounds'

supper. Also the blood and en

trails of the objects of chase. R'ghoglin, gogh'leen (tinker), to

laugh. Rhino (common), money,

Why gold and silver

Should be christened rhino,
As I'm a sinner,
Blow me tight if I know.

-Punch. If my rhino had lasted longer I might have got into worse company still.-Greenwood: Odd People in Odd Places.

The word rhino can be traced back to the restoration of Charles II. The Seaman's Adieu, an old ballad dated 1670, has the following :

Some as I know
Have parted with their ready rino.

Dr. Brewer suggests that it came from the German rinos, a nose, alluding to the Swedish nose-tax. Other suggested derivations are the Scottish rino and the Spanish riñón, meaning kidney; "tener cubierto el riñón" signifies to be wealthy. Again it may have been coined from the phrase, “to pay through the nose," i.e., to pay a high price.

“Probably as a Yorkshire and

Northern word from the Scandinavian or Danish ren or reno, fine, brilliant, shining; a common synonym in every language for money, as the "shiners.' In the Icelandic Skaldespraket, or poets' language (a part of the Edda), the word Rhine (Rhenfloden) is, however, given as one of the twenty terms for gold, because the great treasure of the Nibelungen lies in it" (C. G.

Leland: Notes).
Rhinoceral, rich. Vide RHINO.

Thou shalt be rhinoceral, my lad, thou shalt. --Shadwell: Squire of Alsatia. Rhyme-slinger, a vulgar term for

a poet. “Poetic license,” said Doss Chiderdoss, “is all very well, but you have to pay for it now and again.”

“Exactly,” observed Miss Park Palings. “I suppose you have to take out a license the same as you do for dogs.”

But the highly indignant rhyme-slinger had rushed off to Yaughan's to get a stoup of liquor. Sporting Times. Rib (popular), a wife; of Biblical

origin.

Rib bender (pugilistic), a violent

blow in the ribs.

If it had killed the man, he deserved it, the rough fellow. I afterwards heard that it was some time before he recovered the rib-bender he got from the fat show-woman. -Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

Ribbers (pugilistic), blows in the

ribs. Yet, sprightly to the scratch both buffers

came, While ribbers rung from each resounding frame.

– Thomas Moore: Works.

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Ribbon (popular), gin or other

spirits. Vide RED RIBBON. Ribbons (common), the reins; to

handle the ribbons, to drive. Rib-roaster, colloquially a rap

across the body at singlestick. Much resorted to in the old cudgelling or “backswording” play for the purpose of trying to bring the opponent's guard down, and thus obtain an opening at his head. An old term. And he departs, not meanly boasting Of his magnificent rib-roasting.

--Hudibras. (Pugilistic), a smart blow in the ribs. There's a regular rib-roaster for you!

-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Rice-bags (popular), trousers. Richard (schools), a dictionary.

From the abbreviation dic (Dick)

of dictionary. Ricochet (American cadet), gay,

splendid. Ridgecully (old cant), a goldsmith.

From ridge, gold, and cully, man. Riding on the cheap. Vide DUCK, · DOING A. Riding the donkey (thieves),

cheating in weight. Rig (booksellers). H. J. Byron

says a rig is a term which signifies in the book trade a sale by auction, where the lots are “missed” by the proprietor or proprietors. And a leading bookseller says that these rigs have now (1868) become a re

cognised feature in the business. Rig is good English for sportive trick, lively frolic, bit of mischief. The rig in auction sales is a trick by which the dealers agree not to bid against one another, buy low, and resell by a mock auction called “knock out.” A man is said to have the rig run upon him when he has to undergo a number of false

imputations. Right as rain (popular), quite

right, safe, comfortable.

There was six of us took the rattler at King's Cross by the first train in the morning, and we'd got three briefs and a old 'un with the date sucked off-right as rain we was ! We got a kerridge all to ourselves, nice and comfortable. -Sporting Times. Right man (tailors), the workman

who makes the right forepart,

and finishes the coat. Right smart (American), a "right

smart of work," a large amount of work; the phrase is further explained by the following quotation. Mayor Hewitt has laid out what they call in the far West "a right smart of work,” and it will be interesting to see what the less energetic aldermen are going to do about it.-New York Times.

Right smart chance, many, much, a good occasion. Rights, to (thieves), to have one

to rights, to be even with him. "You are to rights this time,”

there is a clear case against you. Right up to the handle (Ameri.

can), thoroughly; "he is a good fellow up to the handle.”

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tion. The political rings and gangs year after year despoil that revenue so that there is little or nothing to show for it. The helpless taxpayers are systematically robbed, and the financial administration of the city and county is rotten with corruption.-American Newspaper.

This term is now common in England. Formerly to go through the ring, to take advantage of the Insolvency Act, or to be “whitewashed.”

Rigs (popular), clothes. From the expression “to rig out,” “to rig up,” which see. I fancy that the style is neat, Look at my tile, and twig my feet, With rigs like mine you seldom meet, Eh! Rather!

-H. Ross: The Husband's Boat. Rig, to (Stock Exchange), to un

duly inflate a security by fair means or foul. (Mercantile), to rig the market, to play tricks so as to defraud purchasers. (Popular), “to rig out,” “to rig up,” to dress. From a sea phrase. Given as good English by some dictionaries, but chiefly used by slang-talking people.

Tom and I sent out all our own clothes to pawn, so as to rig up a seedy toff (handle to his name and all) and send him in to bet, while we ourselves spent the day in bed without a pair of breeches between us.-Sporting Times.

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Rikker, rik (gypsy), to carry,

keep, retain. Rikker adré o sherro, to remember. “Rikker lis adré tīro kókerós zi te kekno’ll jin lis”-“Keep it in your own soul and nobody will know it.”

Rikker yer noki trushnees ” _“Carry your own baskets.”—Gypsy Proverbs. Rinder (University), an outsider.

Used at Queen's. Ring (American), a combination

of financiers, manufacturers, or politicians, formed to advance their own interests, and very often to rob the public. Thus the object of the great whisky ring, a coalition of distillers, was to evade the revenue laws. Take the case of New York City, with its enormous revenues, by way of illustra.

Ringing the horse-shoes (tailors),

a welcome to a man who has

been out boozing or drinking. Ring in, to (American), to ring

in, to force or insinuate oneself into company where one is not wanted, or to which one does not belong. It is applied to getting the better of in almost every sense. Probably from the English “ringing the changes.” Also to ring into. The term was about 1845 generally associated with Beau Hickman, a notorious

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low adventurer who made it popular. (Cardsharpers), to ring in, to add surreptitiously or substitute cards in a pack.

The gang disappeared with “ the spoil,” and when the cards were counted sixty over the usual number were found to have been rung in.-Sporting Times.

To ring in a cold deck, to substitute a fresh pack, in which the cards are prearranged. One day he got half-a-dozen tinhorn gamblers together, and between them they rung in a cold deck in a faro-box.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. Ringster (American), a member

of a noisy clique, political or otherwise, whose object is to profit its members at public expense.

The Coast Survey Bureau . . . has been a nest for ringsters for the last four or five years.-American Newspaper. Ring-tail (military), a recruit.

The prisoner went into Simpson's and called for a glass of sherry, in payment for which he gave Miss R- a half-sovereign. She handed him gs. 6d., whereupon he said that he had some silver, and adding a sixpence to the change asked her to give him a sovereign for that and the ten-shilling piece, which she did. Late in the evening he came again, and calling for a glass of whisky, tried on the same trick, but the lady gave him into custody. -Daily Telegraph.

(Conjurors), to substitute one object for another. From the slang phrase “ringing the changes.” (Up-country Australian), to patrol round and round cattle.

You'll have to ring them. Pass the word for all hands to follow one another in a circle.-A. C. Grant.

(American), to make a noise, to burst out with turbulent conduct. Next time you ring I am coming for you.-F. Francis : Saddle and Mocca.

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sin.

Ring-tailed roarer (American).

At first a “coon" was a great compliment to a pretentious, or brave, or indomitable man, then ring-tail, from the rings of light grey and grey black which are so prominent on the tail of the racoon. You're the ring-tailed squealer-less Than a hundred silver dollars Won't be offered you, I guess.”

–Ben Gualtier. Ring, to (thieves), to steal, by

changing such articles as coats, saddles at fairs and markets, &c. “Ringing the changes,” changing bad money for good, or defrauding by means of a trick. Explained by quotation.

Ring up, to (up-country Aus

tralian), to patrol round, to keep riding round and round a herd, which has to be done when they are unsteady, and inclined to make a bolt or stampede. It cows the cattle, who imagine that they are surrounded, and enables the stockmen to see where mischief is brewing. Gradually they drop into a steadier pace, and at last with panting chests, lolling-out tongues, and glaring eyes, are driven into a mob of quiet cattle, which are found feeding handy. Ring them up. Mix them well with the quiet ones, and let them stand a little.-A. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland.

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ciation of ideas between speed and excellence.

Rinkeno rinkni, ránkini (gypsy),

pretty, beautiful. (Hindu, rán

gini, gaily coloured), Rinse (society), drink. I suggested that something ambrosial we'd

quaff, (The rinse? Do you cotton to phiz ?) 'Twas Arcadia for nearly a day and a

half. (Goodwood winnings squared the biz.).

-Bird o' Freedom. Rip (old cant), “a poor devil.”

Dutch slang, gone, lost. J. Teirlinck remarks that “hij is rip"_"he is rip,” or “gone,” comes naturally from the R. I. P. of the tombstones. (Common), a rake. Corruption of repro

bate, according to Hotten. Ripe (old), drunk. Rip, let it (society), let matters

follow their course, go to the deuce. From an American phrase in reference to a steamship, “Let her rip, I'm insured,”

i.e., let her burst, &c. Rip out, to (American), impati.

ently giving vent or expression to one's feelings or opinions, to “rap out." When brought face to face with his opponent, his smarting sense of injustice caused him to rip out what he thought of the whole matter.

Ripping (common), a popular

superlative of the present day. An emphasising term to express excellent, pleasant, amusing, charming, elegant, &c. Vide RIPPER. Why, I've been a thinkin' on yer as bein' dead lots and lots of times, old Smiff, since the last time we seed you, and here you are dressed rippin'. — The Little Ragamuffins.

“Did you enjoy the Easter festivals much?” asked the poetess of the widower.

"Ripping," responded the bereaved. Bird o Freedom. Ripping and staving along. Vide

FULL DRIVE.

Rip, to (American), to tear along timămâÒâ►Ò►–2?Â2Òâū2ņģtiņ22– ing along like all possessed.” Commonly heard as “Let her rip!” As it implies going recklessly on to destruction, it has been ingeniously derived from the letters R. I. P. (requiescat in pace), often seen on gravestones. Also to swear, curse. While I was cooking supper the old man took a swing or two, and got sort of warmed up, and went to ripping again. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Rise (common), to take a rise out

of a person is to outwit, quiz, or make him the subject of a jest. A metaphor from fly-fishing. Gig-lamps, I vote we take a rise out of the youth.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

According to the author of “Sam Slick,” to get or take a rise out of any one is specially

Ripper (common). A ripper may be a really good fellow, a very fast horse, a good play or part, in short, it is applied to any one or anything superlatively good. From an Americanism “to rip,” to go at a great pace, the metaphor being in an asso

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not ride well, who swerves from the straight line at the finish

when the rush takes place. Roaring-boys, an old term still

used to signify a boisterous, rowdy gang.

A group of roaring-boys comes staggering up to the door.—Thor Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places.

Roaring forties (nautical), a term

applied by sailors to the degrees of latitude between 40° and 50°. N.—the zone of storms as far as the Atlantic is concerned. Also sometimes applied to the same latitudes in the Southern Sea.

American ; but it is very seldom heard in the United States, while it is common in England. It means simply the vulgar and almost obsolete practice of quizzing, or rendering a man ridi. culous, sometimes by directly mortifying him, at others by drawing him out. It is not

+ to be found in Bartlett's Dictionary of Americanisms; but it is given in Hotten as Eng. lish, specially as Oxford Uni

versity slang. Rise a barney, to (patterers,

Punch and Judy), to collect a

crowd. River rats, men who plunder the

bodies of drowned persons. "It pays better, if a man has got the heart to do it, to rob a body and let it drift."

“Or rob it first, and take it ashore afterwards and claim the reward," I suggested.

“But you'll never find the regular rat doing that, unless it was a body there was a reward offered for. ... If it's only halfa-crown they find in the pockets, it's best for them to be satisfied with that, and have no more to do with it."-J. Greenwood: Rag, Tag, & Co. Rivets (popular), money. Road agents (American), high

waymen.

They went up into Virginia, and formed a band of sixty or seventy road agents, or highwaymen.-O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail,

Roast brown, to (thieves), said of

a detective who watches a man. I was taking a ducat to get back to town

(I had come by the rattler to Dover), When I see as a reeler was roasting me

brown, And he rapped, “I shall just turn you

over."

-The Referee. Roasting, to give a (thieves),

to watch as one watches meat which is being roasted. This seems to be connected with the phrase "to give hot beef,” to pursue.

I see a reeler giving me a roasting, so I began to count my pieces for a jolly.Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Roast, to (common), to expose a

person to a running fire of jokes for the amusement and with the assistance of a whole company. (Hotten), to severely take to task. Another letter received from one W. T. Nelson, of Cleveland, severely roasts both. – Daily Inter-Ocean.

Roaf (back-slang), four; as roaf

gen, four shillings; roaf yan.

neps, fourpence. Roam on the rush, to (racing),

is said of a jockey who does

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(Thieves), said of a detective on the watch. (Pugilistic), to roast the ribs is to strike on the sides.

Robert (common), a policeman.

Also Roberto.
When coroners sit upon corpses galore

Of people who killed on the sly are,
The guilt of one person is well to the

fore, For our Roberts so terribly fly are. The verdict is always conclusive enough, And the facts in a nutshell all shown

are; The peelers can prove in ways ready, if

rough, These the deeds of “a person unknown”. - George R. Sims: An Awful

Character. Robin Red-breasts, explained by

quotation. Officers attached to the Bow Street police - office, and who were otherwise known as Bow Street“ runners," and sometimes, from their scarlet vests, as Robin Red-breasts.—Daily Telegraph. Roby Douglas (nautical), the

posterior.

are.

Rocker, to (gypsy), to understand.

Can you rocker Romany,
Can you patter flash ?
-Hindley: Life and Adventures

of a Cheap Jack. Correctly räcker. Rock of eye and rule of thumb

(tailors), refers to doing any. thing which requires scientific

treatment by guesswork. Rocks (American), small stones

or pebbles are called rocks in the Southern States. One rash philologist essayed to prove that “nugget” was simply an American corruption of the word “ingot;” but a Californian digger at once sternly negatived this idea by informing Europeans that he had handled a few “lumps" of gold, and had seen some sacks full of rocks, but that “nuggets" had never been heard of in the auriferous West until the word was imported from Australia. -Globe.

The term is used in some parts of England. Rock, the (army), Gibraltar. Rocky (popular), bad, queer,

shaky. Much used by printers. "Just my usual rocky luck,” groaned the Conkster. -Sporting, Times.

(Common), tipsy. Roglan (tinker), a four-wheeled

vehicle.

Rock bottom (American), pro

perly basis or foundation. Also “hard pan.” Metaphorically ruin. Other freight wars, covering much less territory than the present, have gone to rock bottom before any attempt has been made to restore rates.-American Newspaper.

Rock bottom dollar, last dollar. Rocked, half (popular), half

witted; also, “had a rock too much."

Rogue and pully (thieves), a man

and woman going out to rob

gentlemen. Rogue and villain (thieves’

rhyming slang), a shilling. Rogue's yarn, a thread of red or

blue worsted, worked into the

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ropes manufactured in the Government dockyards, to iden

tify them if stolen (Hotten). Roker (schools), a ruler, generally

a flat one. Scandinavian rak, straight, even. On the east

coast a skate is called a roker. Roller (Oxford), or roll call, a

substitute for compulsory at

tendance at chapel. Rollers (Stock Exchange), United

Rolling Stock.
Rolleys (popular), vehicles.

Yet you, with rolleys and the like,

No sympathy can feel, sir,
But dare a crushing blow to strike
Against the common-wheel, sir !

-Funny Folks. Rolling Joe (old cant), a smartly

dressed fellow. Also “ilashy blade."

These wanderers are now gene. rally admitted to have come from Northern India, and probably a mixture of the Jāt, Dom, and other wanderers who, being driven out of India, about the tenth century coalesced and went to the West.

The writer believes that the ancestors of the gypsies must be sought, so far as name at least is concerned, among the Dom, a very low caste in India. But in the north of India, in the hill country, there are the Domar or Dom allied to them who are not by any means so degraded. D and R are convertible in Indian tongues, and doi, a wooden spoon in Hindu, is roy in gypsy. The writer has met with a Hindoo who declared that he once belonged to a tribe of Indian gypsies who called themselves Rom. He said that in their peculiar language māro or mānro was bread. This is the word for bread in all gypsy dialects, but it is not found in any Indian tongue. Mr. Grierson, however, following the indication as to the Dom, discovered in India that among the Bihar Doms, maro means wheat.

Roll of snow (thieves), a

piece of Irish linen (Ducange

Anglicus). Roll on (Shrewsbury School), ex

plained by quotation. Anything approaching swagger is severely rebuked; there is no more objectionable quality than that understood by the expression “He's got such a horrid roll on.”—Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Roll your hoop (tailors), go ahead,

you are all right.

Rom (gypsy), a gypsy, one of the

Romany race. The etymology of the word is uncertain. It would appear to have some affinity to the Hindu rani-na, of Sanskrit origin, “to roam.” VOL. II.

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Roman fall (common), another of

the absurdities of posture in walking which seem to run periodically like an epidemic through the ranks of the shallow-witted and idle members of the community. It consisted in throwing the head well forward and the small of the back well

in while walking. Romany (gypsy and thieves), a

gypsy.
And here I am, pals, merry and free,
A regular rollicking romany.

-Ainsworth: Rookwood.
A romany rye, a gentleman
who talks Romany, who asso-
ciates with gypsies, and is

familiar with their ways. Rome-vile, Rum-ville (old cant). London.

A gage of ben Rom-bouse
In a bousing ken of Rom-vile.

- The Roaring Girie. From rum, great (which see), and French ville ; or old English vill, a village.

the pigeon's neck downstairs, or, finally, fighting him with

pistols by way of finish.” Daincourt would fain be thought both wit

and bully, But punk-rid Radcliffe's not a greater

cully, Nor tawdry Isham, intimately known To all pox'd whores, and famous rooks in town.

-Earl of Rochester: Works. The papers give an account of the “International pigeon shooting at Monte Carlo." This is very curious. We should have thought that there were no "pigeons” to shoot at, considering the number of rooks there.-Funny Folks.

Also a clergyman. In French corbeau. (Tailors), a very badly. dressed or dirty person.

Rookery (common, formerly

thieves' cant), thickly-populated courts and alleys inhabited by very poor people, as in the East

End.
He owns the rookery whence, by roguish

Sleight,
From bodily ill and spiritual blight
Greed sucks a rich subsistence.

-Punch.

Rookey (army), a recruit ; from

the black coat some of them wear. (Common), rascally.

Rook (common), a cheat,

cardsharper. In opposition to “pigeon,” a dupe. John Bee, in his dictionary of the turf, ring, &c., gives the following definition of rooks of the period

-“ Fellows about gambling. houses who are employed in plucking well-fledged pigeons, of every quality, from the thoroughpaced gent down to the marker. They may be engaged either in actual play, in acting the con. federate, in procuring loans, in forcible robbery, in breaking

Rook, to (common), to ease a

player of his money; without any particularly offensive mean. ing. Also to cheat.

Roorback (American), a canard,

a humbug. Chiefly used in politics. Said to be derived from one Rohrbach, a famous impostor.

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is done when a man is betting against his own horse.

Though we are as deaf as posts, and as dumb as the jockey with orders to rope his mount. -Bird o Freedoni.

Ropper (popular and thieves), a

comforter. Hulking, heavy-jawed gentlemen, with a great deal of the lower part of the face hidden in the thick folds of a ropper, and with close-fitting caps and seafaring. looking jackets, into the side pockets of which the hands are thrust deep as the wrists, as though in guard of the neat and elegantly finished tools of his trade -the "jemmy," the skeleton keys, the life.preserver. -Greenwood: In Strange Company.

“If dey say a candydate am all right dat's a roorback; if dey say he am all wrong dat's anoder?”

“Exactly."— Detroit Free Press. Roost (common), a dwelling. Rooster (American), a cock.

Go ahead! cock-a-doodle-doo! and he crowed like a real live rooster.-Sam Slick.

(Old cant), queer rooster, a person who shams sleep. Roosting ken (thieves), lodging

house, inn. Roost over one, to (American),

to get the better of. Roost, to (common), to cheat.

(Military), explained by quotation.

To be roosted is to be placed under arrest.-A. Barrère : Argot and Slang. Rooter (popular), anything good

or of first quality. Rooti (Indian army), soldiers thus

term their ration bread. Hindu

roti, bread. Root, to (schools and London), to

give one a kick behind. Ropes (schools), one who plays

“half-back”at football. (Nauti. cal), on the high ropes, angry. (Common), to know the ropes, to be conversant with the minutiæ of metropolitan dodges, as regards both the streets and

the sporting world (Hotten). Rope, to (turf), to rope one's

horse, to hold him in in a race
in such a manner as not to be
perceptible to lookers-on. This

Rorty (costermongers), a complimentary adjective indicating rarity. It is more likely to have come from the German Jews, who continually speak of any. thing choice as a rorität, than

from the English rare. Still, this 'ere blooming Hanarchy, Char

ley, won't do at no figger, dear boy, A bit of a rorty romp round in the open

a chap can enjoy, But brickbats and hoyster-knives? Walker!

Not on in that scene, mate, not me! And a bash on the nob with a baton is not my idea of a spree.

-Punch.

A rorty toff, an out-and-out swell costermonger; a rorty dasher, a fine fellow, great

swell. Yah! marriage is orful queer paper ; it's

fatal, dear boy, as you say, It damps down the rortiest dasher, it

spiles yer for every prime lay. No; gals is good fun, wives wet blankets,

that's wot my egsperience tells, And the swells foller me on that track, though you say as I follers the swells.

-Punch.

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Rotten Row (naval). Men in the

navy say of an unserviceable ship, “she belongs to Rotten Row."

Rosser, rozzer (thieves), a new

term for a detective. From the slang term to “roast,” to watch, or more probably from the French rousse, roussin, a detective, police.

It was stated that the prisoner, being in Holborn, and seeing a detective watching him, called out to a companion, “There's a rosser!” The term is, as the magistrate opined, a new one. --The Globe.

“Another wrong un,” says the carman. “Hi, Mr. Grabham !”-and up walks a rozzer and buckles me tight.--Sporting Times.

Rot, to (common), explained by

quotation. From rot, rubbish, nonsense.

She kindly introduced me to the expressions "chic," "too-too" (which, however, she said, were now obsolete); the verb to rot, which she explained meant to humbug or ballyrag.–St. James's Gazette.

Rot was originally circus and acrobats' expression for any. thing bad.

Rosy (common), wine.

In the attempt to be picturesque, the device of poetry is adopted, and an object is represented not by the ordinary word representing it, but by some epithet or periphrasis. Thus wine has been called the rosy.-St. James's Gazette.

Rough luck (Royal Military Aca

demy), an ejaculation of disap

pointment, meaning “no luck." Roughrider's wash-tub (army),

the barrack water-cart, so called because it is used to lay the dust in riding-schools.

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A loafer who travels on his “shape” (i.e., trusts to dress and personal appearance), and is supported by a woman, but who does not get enough money to enable him to play faro. Gamblers call such men rounders, outsiders, loafers.

Rouncher, roncher (American),

a word expressing something extreme, powerful, superlative, as, for instance, a violent wrench or blow. Also anything large, fine, or remarkable. Probably a modification of the old English nounceval, strong, large, to which is allied the Northumberland roundge, a violent push or blow,

also a great noise. Roundabout (thieves), a female

thief's pocket, which encircles her body and reaches down to the knees, with two apertures. It will stand an ordinary searchspoons, a watch, or money sliding round from side to side; and if the wearer be bulky, much largerarticles pass undiscovered. Also the treadmill, invented about 1823

Round on, to (thieves and popu

lar), to inform on, give evidence against a comrade or accomplice, although it is used also of prison officials. Mary Anne rounded on her royal lover, and made the most damaging statements against him.-Ross's Variety Paper.

Yesterday the news was announced that one of the men arrested had rounded on his accomplices.—Daily Telegraph.

Perhaps from an idea of turning round upon one treacherously, or from the old English to round, to whisper, a corrupt form of roun or roune. AngloSaxon rúnian (German raunen), akin to Icelandic rún, a secret, a whispering (Rev. A. Smythe Palmer: Folk Etymology).

Roundabout, round robin (Ame

rican thieves), an instrument used by burglars to cut a large round hole into an iron chest or door. It is said to have been invented by a noted American burglar, known as “the Doctor.” Whenever he cut a disk of iron from a “safe," he always kept it, and when he was finally arrested, forty or fifty of these trophies were found in his house.

Round 'un (popular), an unblush

ingly given and well-proportioned lie (Hotten).

Round betting (turf), those who

bet upon or against several horses in a race are said to bet round.

Round up, to (West American),

gathering sheep, cattle, or pigs into a compact flock or herd. The metaphor of rounding in the sense of massing is very ancient. The Romans used “globus” in the sense of a mass. As soon as the round up was completed, the herd was taken down to the hacienda, where the branding was to take place.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin...

Rounder (American thieves), a man who hangs around farobanks, but who does not play.

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Used also in Australia. Now they are well away from the scrub, round them up, if possible, and let them stand a few minutes to breathe.-A. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland. Roupy (American), hoarse.

She plays upon the pian-o,
And twirls the light fantastic toe,
And sings just like a roupy crow.

- Negro Minstrel Song. Rouseabout (Australian up-coun

try), a drudge. A rouseabout on a station, like a "super" at a theatre, is a man who has to make himself generally usefulto do any job that may turn up, such as chopping wood, cleaning

out, &c. It may be that the rouseabout swiper who

rode for the doctor that night, Is in Heaven with the hosts of the Blest,

robed and sceptred, and splendid with light.

-New South Wales Paper. Rouster, roustabout (American),

originally any very powerful fellow, now applied to a rough who hangs about anywhere for work, and specially to a deck hand, stoker, rough fellow. Swedish rustar, a powerful rowdy, a roisterer.

really employed by churches, hospitals, &c., others are cheats, who have many ingenious devices to obtain money. One of these is to inquire if Mrs. is at home (having previously ascertained the name of the occupant of the house), and send up a card. While in the drawing-room, as soon as the servant is gone, the rover steals a few cards from the receiver. Having interviewed the hostess, she goes to the ladies whose names and perhaps addresses are on the cards, and states that she was sent to them by the one from whom they were taken, and that she takes a special interest in the charity for which money is solicited. There are many men engaged also in this infamous business. Women also largely employ the “collection dodge" for purposes of intrigue, and to make the acquaintance of men. Even when undertaken in good faith, “roving” has a demoralising effect on young ladies, as the soliciting money from “all sorts and conditions of men" always must. “When I first went about collecting for our charity,” said a young lady, “I was ready to faint whenever anybody looked at me, but now I shouldn't be afraid to ask the Old Boy him. self for a dollar, and not let him go till he paid it."

A fight occurred on the steamer between a negro rouster and the second mate. American Newspaper.

Rovers, fish-hawks (American),

women, often young and goodlooking, who go about every and anywhere, into brokers' shops, law-offices, stores, universities, or wherever men may be met, soliciting subscriptions or contributions for charitable purposes. Many of them are

Rowdy (popular), cash, money.

Probably a corruption of ruddy, a gold piece. Vide RUDDY.

a gora

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Rowing man (University), (pro

nounce row as in bough), one

who lives a fast life, a spreer. Rowl, to (American University),

to recite lessons well. Provincial English rowl, to rush.

Royal scamp (old cant), a gentleman highwayman, in opposition to "foot scamp."

Rubbed about (tailors), being

rubbed about is being made a convenience of.

Ruck (common), common, un.

distinguished crowd. German rücken, to crowd together; Icelandic hraukir, probably the

true origin. But I'm quite another guess sort; penny

plain, tuppence coloured, yer see, May do all very well for the ruck; but they'll find it won't arnser for me!

-Punch. (Turf), to come in with the ruck, to arrive at the winning

post among the unplaced horses. I once knew

t famed for his luck Who to punting was muchly addicted ; But the horses he backed to a place “in

the ruck" Were with scarce an exception restricted.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Rubbed out (common), dead. Rubbs (old cant), hard shifts.

Rub down, to (prison), explained

by quotation.

Such searching causes trouble, and it soon degenerates into a mere form even by the strictest officers. The modus operandi is as follows: the prisoner stands at attention with his vest unbuttoned-he raises his arms, holding his pocket-handkerchief in one hand. The officer passes his hand over his body, and then proceeds to the next man. This is called rubbing down. -Evening News.

(Popular), to rate a person soundly, or take him to task.

Ruck along, to (Oxford), to go

or make one go along at a great pace.

Ruck on, to (popular), to tell of,

to inform. “She's such a sneak, she is, always rucking on me.”

Rub in, to (American), persevere

in teasing or annoying, aggravation without cessation, or what in French is called monter une sue.

Ruction (popular), commotion,

disturbance. Swedish ryck, attack, row, convulsive excite. ment.

Sure never obstruction
Raised half such a ruction.

-Punch

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Hotten gives the definition “an Irish row, faction fight.”

Ruddy (thieves), a gold piece.

Icelandic roda, red and gold.

Ruffian, ruffin (old cant), the devil, alluding to the rough hair covering his body (as its synonym“old Harry).” Vide HARRY.

The bube and ruffian cly the Harman beck and harmans. — T. Dekker: Lan. thorne and Candle Light.

Ruffian once denoted, not so much roughness of behaviour, as roughness of appearance, especially in the matter of hair. The English ruffian, in its usual sense, is from the Italian ruffiano, a pimp; but ruffian and ruffin are

confused in old cant. Ruffler (old cant), a mendicant who shammed the wounded sol. dier or maimed sailor, but who robbed on the highway when opportunity offered. Harman has the definition “outcast of serving-men who robs inferior

beggars." Now in the crib, where a ruffler may lie, Without fear that the traps should distress him.

-Lytton: Paul Clifford. This seems to be derived, like the old French cant term rouffier, soldier, from the Italian ruffare,

to seize, lay hands upon. Ruffles (old cant), handcuffs. Ruffle, the, the production of the crackling sound of a pack of cards, used as a flourish to a trick (“Modern Magic").

Ruffmans (old cant), woods or

bushes. Now bynge we a waste to the hygh pad, the ruffmans is by.—Harman : Caveat.

From rough, and the frequent affix mans, as in “darkmans”

night, “ lightmans" day, &c. Ruffpeck (old cant), bacon.

Red-shanks then I could lack,
Ruffpeck still hung on my back,
Crennam ever filled my sack.

— The Scoundrel's Dictionary. Rugger (schools), the Rugby game

at football. Ruggins (old cant), to go to

Ruggins, to go to sleep. From

rug. Ruggy (popular), fusty, frowsy

(Hotten). Rug, it's all (old cant), it is all

rigat. Ruin (popular and thieves), gin;

called also “ blue ruin.” Rum, rom (old cant). This word,

which signified great, excellent, superior, clever, best, &c., came from rum, rom, a gypsy. As in rom-booze, good drink. Piot, a common cant word used by French clowns and other tippling companions; it signifies rum-booze, as our gypsies call good guzzle. — Urquhart: Rabelais.

Rum clan, a silver or gold mug; rum cod, a well-filled purse, a purse full of gold; rum cole, a new coin ; rum cull, rich man, lover, best man.

1, Frisky Moll, with my rum cull, Would suck in a boozing ken. -Frisky Moll's Song, from Harle

quin's Sheppard, a Play.

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Rum doxy, best girl, mistress, wife; rome-mort, lady, queen; rum pad, the highroad; rum quick, large booty; Rom-vile, the great town, London.

A gage of ben Rom-bouse
In a bousing ken of Rom-vile.

--The Roaring Girl. This signification survives in rum beak, justice of the peace; rumbo, good, and run cull, manager of a theatre, used by actors and showmen, whose slang phraseology is mainly from the gypsy and Italian; also in rum-mizzler, one clever at effecting his escape.

The modern rum is a word of many meanings, generally im. plying something strange, queer, difficult, or out of the way. “What a rum chap you are, Tom!' said Master Bales, highly amused. -Dickens: Oliver Twist. He came not to luncheon, all said "it was rum of him!”

-Ingoldsby Legends. A rider unequalled—a sportsman complete, A rum one to follow, a bad one to bcat. -Whyte-Melville : Songs and Verses.

It has been said that this word, with its present signification, was first applied to Roman Catholic priests, and subsequently to other clergymen. Thus Swift spoke of a “rabble of tenants and rusty old rums” (country parsons). Swift sim. ply uses the old gypsy cant term here, which meant “queer,” hence odd.

Rum or rom, as a gypsy word, was applied not only to what ever concerned sport, the ring,

and turf, but to what is “queer," and is still used commonly as such, e.g., a "regular Roman " (Borrow), or rum 'un, i.e., a Romany. There are other old instances proving that the word, as applied to rum, a liquor, was

regarded as a gypsy word. Rum beak (old cant), a synonym

of “queer cuffin," a justice of

the peace. Rum bing (thieves), a full purse.

From the old canting rum, which

see, and bong, a purse. Rum bit (old cant), a rogue. Rumbler (thieves), coach ; now

more generally a four-wheeled
cab.
I first held horses in the street,
But being found defaulter,
Turned rumbler's flunky for my meat,
So was brought up to the halter.
-Charles Hindley: The Life and

Times of James Catnach.
Also a cart.
The rumbler jugged off from his feet
And he died with his face to the city.

—Burrowes : Death of Socrates.
A running rumbler was a con-
federate of thieves, who rolled
a grinding stone, to give an

opportunity to his accomplices. Rumbo (theatrical), good. Vide

RUM.

Rumbo ken (theatrical), a pawn

broker's shop. Rum boozing wells (old cant),

bunches of grapes. Rum bowling (nautical), anything

inferior or adulterated.

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Rumboyl (old cant), the watch. Rumbumptious, rumbustious

(popular), haughty, pompous, boisterous, making great fuss and careless of the comfort of

others. Rum cull (theatrical), the mana

ger of a theatre. Vide Rum. The rum cull of the casa, proprietor, landlord of lodgings. Rum-dropper (old cant), a vintner. Rum duke (old), a half-witted,

awkward boor. Rum-gagger (nautical), a cheat who tells wonderful stories of his sufferings at sea to obtain money. Rum glimmer (old cant), king of

the link-boys, rogues who, under colour of lighting people, robbed them.

Rúmmer, romer, rūmado, or ro-
mado (gypsy), to marry, married.
From rom, a husband, or a gypsy-
man. In Coptic romi has the
same meaning.
“Te vel tu sī rummado mishto,

Te vel tu rumessa sīgan,
Latchesa ke mandy shom kushto

Te sar mori Romany shan”-
“ So if you will marry me early,

So if I'm soon wedded to thee,
You'll find that I really am good
As any real gypsy can be."

-Janet Tuckey. Rum mill (American), a grog

gery.

Rummy (popular), queer. Vide

RUM. True, out in foreign parts parties practise rummy starts.

-Punch. Rum ned (old cant), a fool, mad

man.

Rum-gutlets (old cant), a canary. Rum homee of the case (itiner

ants), the master of the show, the mistress being the “rum dona of the case.”

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Rum-hooper (old cant), a drawer. Rum-Johnny (Anglo-Indian), a

low class of natives who obtained employment on the wharves of Calcutta. Among soldiers and sailors, a prostitute. From the Hindu rāmjāni, a dancing-girl(Anglo-Indian Glossary). Rumley (old cant), well. Vide

Rum. Whid rumley, speak well.

Rumpus (popular), a noise, dis

turbance. From romp.

It is very fortunate too, sir, . . . since when the finale comes, there will probably be a bit of a rumpus that we are not very full of company just now.-J. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Rum, to come it (popular), to do

foolish things. Rum Tom Pat (old cant), a real

clergyman. “What, are Moll and you adamed ?" “Yes, we are, and by a rum Tom Pat too.”—Parker: Variegated Characters.

Rum-Run.

187

Rum ’un (pugilistic), a blow that

fairly settles a man. Rumy (gypsy), a wife; feminine

of rom.

Run-down (French praticable and

pont). The sloping carpeted bridge running from a conjuror's stage into the auditorium (Robert Houdin and Hoffmann).

Run (common), the success of a

play, according to the number of performances.

The penny "gaff” is usually a small place, and when a specially atrocious piece produces a corresponding run, the "house" is incapable of containing the vast number of boys and girls who nightly flock to see it. Scores would be turned away from the doors, and their halfpence wasted, were it not for the worthy proprietor's ingenuity.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

To get the run upon one, to have the upper hand, the advan. tage over him.

Rung (up-country Australian).

The process of being rung or “ring-barked ” consists in the bark being cut right through all round the tree a few feet above the ground, which is done to kill the large gum-trees which encumber and draw so much moisture from the pasturage. It is much practised in Australia.

Their road at first lay between paddocks interspersed with a few trees rung and mostly dead.-D. B. W. Sladen: A Summer Christmas.

Run a bluff, to (West American),

to outwit ; in English slang, to “bounce.” “You got the stock, though?” “Oh, yes; I run a bluff on 'em. They said they wasn't driving 'em anyhow, but they got started in the trail ahead of 'em, and it wasn't their business to turn 'em."-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Run against a pill, to (American),

to encounter a bullet, to be shot. He had always told him he'd run plumb ag'in' a pill some day if he wan't blanked careful like. — Drake's Magazine: He Died Game.

Run in, to (popular), to appre

hend and take to the police station. Occasionally some unfortunate is pounced upon, rudely handled, and run in.-Saturday Revietu. It's bad enough to get run in even of one's

own free will; But to get run in for some one else it

makes me sick and ill. And my boss'll get to know it, since the

oof I cannot raise, And I shall get the blooming chuck as well as fourteen days.

-Sporting Times. This phrase is not recent, but it was seldom heard out of policemen's circles until the chorus of gendarmes in Offenbach's “Geneviève de Brabant” made it familiar to the public. It may have been derived from the old Bow Street runners, the predecessors of modern con

Run big, to (turf), a horse that

runs when too fat, not in training.

It is agreed that the colt ran big, but the short lapse of time will hardly be sufficient to get the lumber off him.Bird o' Freedom.

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stables. The process varies according to the offender. Some need the “ policeman's grip,” whereby the left hand of the prisoner, palm upwards, is grasped by the left of the con. stable, whose right passes under the upper part of the prisoner's arm, grasps his waistcoat, and being straightened, forms a lever which makes him helpless, and would even dislocate his shoulder or break his arm if he resisted. Then there is the “frogs' march” (which see). French policemen sometimes use a process by which even the strongest man is rendered quite helpless. The officer's left hand is fixed at arm's length from behind on the prisoner's coat-collar, while his right lifts him slightly by the seat of his trousers. The man, being thus placed out of the perpendicular, and almost on tip-toe, can then be forced on at a swift pace.

Running glazier (old cant), a thief

who pretended to be a glazier. Running rumble, the (old cant),

going about with a grindingstone as a pretence to give accomplices an opportunity for picking pockets.

I shall go upon the running rumble if you will go with me, Cock-a-brass.Parker: Variegated Characters. Running snavel (old cant), a thief

who watched children going to school to rob them. A form of

snajle, which see. Run of your teeth (Canadian), board; as in the phrase, “I pay so much for the run of my teeth," i.e., my boarding expenses are so much. The run generally refers to keeping, manag

ing, carrying on. Run one's face, to (common), to get credit. Vide FACE.

Since all my money now is gone,
And I have naught to live upon;
Grant me, O Lord, the special grace
For meat and bread to run my face.

-Harper's Magazine. Run one's week, to (American

university), to trust to chance for success.

Run it, to (American cadet), to

go beyond bounds without having previously obtained permission to do so.

Runner (popular), a wave.

All of a sudden I get on a runner mountains high, and bang on the beach goes her bow.-Brighton Beach Loafer.

(Stock Exchange), a man in the employ of a broker, who having a private connection, spends his time running from client to client in quest of orders.

Run rigs, to (old cant), to play

pranks. Run straight, to (society). This

is one of the commonest expressions in society as applied to ladies, and it means that a lady is virtuous and faithful to her husband. It is borrowed from racing parlance, where a horse is talked of as running straight.

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These foolish ones are content to do what is considered the smart thing, knowing as they do that many in our gossiping and scandal-mongering society will attribute to them the worst of motives, and class them with those who do not run straight.-Saturday Review. Run the rule over (prison), to

search a person for stolen property or contraband articles.

I was going through Shoreditch, when a reeler from Hackney, who knew me well, came up and said, “I am going to run the rule over you.”—Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Run through, to (American

thieves), when gamblers play with a “sucker" (i.e., a novice), and do not give him a chance to win a single bet, and clean

him out without loss of time. Run, to. This verb is applied in

England to several meanings besides the legitimate one, but in the United States it has taken a much wider range. Thus a man runs a grocery, a shop, a bank, or a church; and if he be a mayor, or a very influential person in a community, he is said to run the town. “I am running Latin just now," said a schoolboy, meaning that he was studying it. Last week a horse in Duluth found a keg of lager with the head knocked in, and being thirsty, he drank it almost dry. In ten minutes he was waltzing about on his hind-legs, and remarking to every one whom he met, that if he didn't run that

turn, he would like to know who the d i did.-Minnesota Newspaper.

Some beople runs de beautiful,

Some works philosophie;
Der Breitmann solve de infinide
Ash von eternal spree!

-Breitmann in Kansas.

The term is being used in England. To have a big boom was the general rage, And every man's dream was to run or to “boss" all.

-Punch. (American), the term is often applied to keeping of a household. “How much does running your house cost you ?”.

(Common), to run the show, to be the manager of any place of entertainment, theatre, circus, &c. These two boys that run the shows in Argyle Street and elsewhere.-Bird o Freedom. Run up, to, explained by quota

tion. Anyhow there they were, and it required no uncommon degree of penetration to discover that their chief aim was to take note of every bid that was made by an unfortunate whose goods had been seized and run him up most villainously. I feel quite convinced that many persons who had come to repurchase their furniture might have got it, taking it at its market value, at half the sum they had to pay.Greenwood: In Strange Company. Rap (gypsy), silver; rūpeno, of

silver. From the Hindu rup, silver. Hence the French slang term rupin, rich, handsome, splendid. In Danish slang rup

signifies gold. Rush (Australian), the opening of

a new gold-field, from the rush which is made to new diggings. (Up-country Australian), a stampede of cattle.

A confused whirl of dark forms swept before him, and the camp so full of life a minute ago is desolate. It was a rush, a stampede.-A. C. Grant.

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(Common), on the rush, i.e., in a hurry. The lumberer's lurch, as he roams on the rush.

-Sporting Times. Rushed (up-country Australian)

charged by an animal. (American), very busy, hurried.

Some day when Uncle Sam isn't rushed, we hope he will melt over his old mail boxes and cast some new ones big enough to stick a paper into. -Detroit Tribune. Rushers (football), the members

of a football team who run with the ball. American football teams are made up as follows--one full-back, two half-backs, one quarter-back, and seven rushers.-Sport ing Life. Rush, to (common), to rush a

person, to hurry him. Do, but try and make it Japanese if you can; it's just possible he might twig if we rushed him, don't you know, and then I should suffer.-Bird o' Freedom.

(American), to rush a bill, to hurry through a bill.

To rush a bill is an expression well known in the American Senate, and occasionally also used here.-Cornhill Magazine.

presses much. It means a worker, an energetic man, and no slouch can be a rustler.-Morley Roberts : The Western Avernus.

A rowdy, rough. The habit of removing the hat at restaurant tables, which came some years ago, has been followed by other reforms no less notable, and what may be called the atmosphere of the street has clearly less of the rustler about it.-Letter from Chicago.

A desperado, cattle lifter. Then, the rustlers had congregated there in force, the locality affording exceptional advantages for their chief occupation, namely, running off cattle and horses from either side of the frontier. Many a spot is pointed out as the scene of a sanguinary skirmish between these modern mosstroopers and the owners and their followers.-F. Francis : Saddle' and Moccasin.

These men, however, must not be confounded with another class of desperadoes, i.e., those who would not work, and were what is termed rustlers or house thieves. -O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail.

Russer, rusher (American), a heavy

player, a “plunger,” a dashing, sensation-causing man; applied

to politicians, clergymen, &c. Rust (popular), to nab the rust,

to take offence, get angry, turbulent. For derivation vide Rusty. Rustler (American), explained by

quotation.

I just tell you, he's a rustler. Now a rustler is a great Western word, and ex

Rustle, to (American), to go about

seeking work. “I set to work, rustling for a job.” To rustle up or along, is to hurry, hasten, as in this phrase, "rustle the dinner

along." Rust ringing (American uni

versity). “At Hamilton College, the Freshmen," writes a correspondent, “are supposed to lose some of their verdancy at the end of the last term of that year, and the ringing of their rust consists in ringing the chapel bell—commencing at midnight—until the rope wears out. During the ringing, the upper classes are diverted by

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the display of numerous fireworks, and enlivened by most beautifully discordant sounds, called music,' made to issue from tin kettle-drums, horsefiddles, trumpets, horns, &c.”

Rusty (thieves), to turn a rusty,

to betray. Blow me tight, but that cove is a queer one; and if he does not come to be scragged, it will only be because he'll turn a rusty, and scrag one of his pals.Lytton : Paul Clifford.

From the colloquial phrase, “ to turn rusty," used of a person who becomes stubborn, surly, disobliging. Rusty is an old Saxon and Icelandic word, meaning stubborn or rebellious, restive. To cut up rusty, vide CUT UP RUSTY.

R. Y.,'&c., in order to avoid direct

evidence of the transaction.” Ryder, a cloak; gypsy ruder, to

clothe. Rye (gypsy), a gentleman;

(Hindu), rae or rai (rye), a petty nobleman. Ryéskro, gentlemanly. Romany rye, a gypsy gentleman, but generally meaning a gentleman who has learned or who speaks Romany. Gūdlo rye, a nice (sweet) gentleman.

Hotten says this is gypsy for
a young man. It is nothing of
the kind, rye meaning invariably
a gentleman or superior person,
and nothing else. E.g., "the
Romany rye,” the gypsy gentle-
man.
“And the rye and the rawnie

A-pirryin āp o drom"-
“The gentleman and lady

A-walking up the road.”

Young man in gypsy is tano mūsh (i.e. manūsh), or juvo, or

raklo. Ryebuck (American), all right,

it will do, I am satisfied.

Ry (Stock Exchange), any sharp

or dishonest practice. “It originated,” says Dr. Brewer, “in an old stock-jobber, who had practised upon a young man, and being compelled to refund, wrote on the cheque, 'Please to pay to

SACK (common), to give the

sack, to dismiss, discharge from one's employment. To get the sack, to be dismissed, discharged.

I wonder what old Fogg 'ud say, if he knew it; I should get the sack, I s'pose. -Dickens : Pickwick Papers.

He is no longer an officer of this gaol ; he has got the sack. -Reade: Never too Late to Mend.

Said to be from the practice of putting into a sack and throwing into the Bosphorus certain members of the Sultan's harem; also generally supposed to be from the Spanish sacar, meaning to dismiss, and also to “bag,” just as in English; but it originated in the old practice of giving a man a sack when

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ate?"_“How are you?” In the following extract from one of the “Bre'r Rabbit" stories, it seems as “ segashiashun” to mean suggestion.

“Dem ez wuz tuk by Bre'r Buzzard's segashiashun, wuz ter drop en er chickypin” (chinkapin). Sailors' waites (nautical), the

second mates of small vessels.

Salamon, salomon (old cant), the

mass. “I swear by the salo

mon.”

And as I keep to the fore-gone,
So may help me Salamon.

-Oath of English Gypsies.

sending him forth. Hence (St. Luke x. 4) Christ specifies that His disciples, by not taking a sack or scrip, should not consider themselves as dismissed, i.e., not make provision for themselves. The French have the corresponding expressions, “donner son sac à quelqu'un," "avoir son sac ; ” formerly, so donner son sac et ses amilles : French workmen will say, "il a eu son sac avec une forte paire de bretelles.” The Germans have the phrase, “to give the basket.” The synonyms are, “to get the bag,” the "empty,” or the “bul. let.” “To give the sack” is so widely used as to be almost a

recognised phrase. Sack, to. Vide SACK. We had fixed one day to sack him, and

agreed to moot the point, When my lad should bring our usual re. gale of condered joint. –T. B. Stephens: My other

Chinee Cook. Saddle (theatrical), an additional

charge made by the manager to a performer on his benefit

night. Saddlebacks (popular), lice. Also

Yorkshire greys. Safe 'un (turf), a horse wbich will

not run, or will not try in a race. Synonyms, “dead ’un,"

“stiff ’un," "stumer.” Sagaciate (American), a slang

word which seems to be mysteriously employed more for sound than sense, as in “How does your corporosity sagaci

Salmon, a corpse, in the slang of

water-rats, that is, low rascals who ply the river for drowned bodies to rifle. They have different names for them, one with poor ragged clothes being a “flounder" if a man, and a “dab" if a woman. French undertakers call the body of a well-to-do deceased person “un saumon." I knowed a rat . . . who was bit over a job of the kind in a way he isn't likely to forget in a hurry. Just as them two chaps in the sailing boat we saw a while ago might be doing, him and his mate were tacking about on the chance, when they hauled a salmon, as they say.-). Greenwood: Rag, Tag, & Co.

Salt (Eton), money.

Salt-box (thieves), the condemned

cell in Newgate. (Naval), a case for keeping a temporary supply of cartridges for the immediate use of the great guns.

Salt-Sampsman.

193

Salt cat (bird fanciers), explained

by quotation.

Busily concocting a horrid mess, which he called a salt cat, and of which old mortar, cumin seed, and urine were the chief ingredients. When he had mixed it all up like cement, he proceeded to fill sundry old pots and kettles, and to place them in vari. ous parts of the loft, for the birds to peck at at their pleasure.-). Greenwood : Under. currents of London Life.

the books. (Mining), sprinkling some gold-dust in an unproductive mine or hole, or a few diamonds, to deceive intending purchasers or investors. Stymer, long experienced in the mines, set them down for a pair of sharps, and understood their game. He divined that Mose had salted the claimn.-Bird o' Freedom.

Saltee, solde (costermongers, iti

nerants, &c.), a penny. A corruption of the Italian soldo, plural soldi. It has rained kicks all day in lieu of saltees, and that is pennies. -Reade : Cloister and Hearth.

In French, saler is to overcharge, to make one pay roundly. A similar expression is used in Swedish.

(Stock Exchange), to salt down stock, to buy stock and keep it for a considerable period.

This term was originally used by strolling actors, showmen, and became common among

other classes of people. Salting the Freshman (American

university). In reference to this custom, which belongs to Dartmouth College, a correspondent writes—“There is an annual trick of salting the Freshmen, which is putting salt and water on their seats, so that their clothes are injured when they sit down. The idea of preservation, cleanliness, and health is no doubt intended to be conveyed by the use of the wholesome articles salt and water."

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Salt, to (commercial), making

fictitious entries in the books to simulate that the receipts are greater than they really are, when about to sell a business connection, is called salting VOL. II.

-Ainsworth: Rookwood. Literally a collector, from a very old English word sam, to collect things together (Halliwell). German sommeln ; Swedish samla, implying money in one sense, also union or being together. Hence to stand sam,

N

194

Sam-Sap.

to treat all the partySam, the lot. “ Sammed, assembled together” (Halliwell).

one division and last in the other. It has to row two races each day.

Sam, stand (popular), to be surety

for a person, to treat to drink, pay the reckoning. Vide SAMPSMAN.

But not to be baulked of the night's entertainment, he had perforce to stand Sam for the lot.-Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack. But the scapegoats must not kick up shin

dies, and stop up our streets and our

squares, That's a moral. Perhaps there is grab

bers as wants to swag more than their

shares. I ain't nuts on sweaters myself, and I do

'ate a blood-sucking screw, Who sponges and never stands Sam, and whose motto's “all cop, and no blue."

-Punch.

Sandwich-men (general), called

also board-men. Poor fellows who for a scanty reward walk the pavement in single file, with advertisement boards on chest and back. He stopped the unstamped advertise. ment-an animated sandwich, composed of a boy between two boards. - Sketches by Boz. “Declined with thanks; with thanks de.

clined,” This is the burden of my song: These words are ever in my mind,

I see and hear them all day long. I envy every man I seeSweeps, sandwich-men, and clerks in

banks; Their services, whate'er they be, Are not always" Declined with thanks!”

-Sporting Times.

Sank-house (tailors), an army

clothier's establishment. From sank, a great quantity, wholesale.

Sand (West American), courage.

An equivalent for “grit.” “Doc would get away with him," said Joe. “Would he !" ejaculated Squito hotly.

“Yes, he's got all Sam's sand, and is cooler.”—F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Sand-rat (engineers), a moulder

in a foundry. Sand, to have (American), to be

brave.

She HAD THE SAND.-Mrs. Lizzie Cook, of No. 18 Clark Street, demonstrated her personal courage and thorough muscular development in rather an odd manner last evening. Without weapon of any kind, she seized and held a strong man, whom she asserts is a horse-thief, until a servant had been despatched to the Central Police Station.—Daily Inter-Ocean. Sandwich boat (university). In bumping races, rowed in two divisions, it is the boat head of

Sap (Eton), one who works hard.

Vide To SAP. He remembered in English schools and colleges the many epithets applied to those who, not content with doing their work, committed the heinous offence of being absorbed in it. For this purpose schools and colleges had invented phrases, semiclassical or wholly vernacular, such as sap, “smug,” “swot," “bloke,” and “mugster.”—Daily News.

If a boy did anything more than the regular school-work for his own improve. ment, he was called a sap.-C. T. Buckland: Eton Fifty Years Ago.

Sap the tlas (common), back

slang for pass the salt, used

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when the drink does not go round freely.

Sap, to (public schools), to work

hard. It is in common use at
Eton. Said to be of circumlo-
cutory derivation from the Latin
sapere, but more probably to sap,
taken figuratively, i.e., to dig.
The French piocher is used in
both senses.

These incentives to industry prevent the
early years of a boy in college being
entirely wasted; but those who, toward
the end of their school time, at length
begin to value and to practise studious
habits, often think regretfully upon the
advantages secured by those who sapped
from the beginning.-Pascoe : Every-day
Life in our Public Schools.
Sarahs (Stock Exchange), Man-

chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-
shire Railway Def. Stock.

the left, and before your foot reaches ground you must describe a circle with the entire limb. The gait is practised in a night dress before the mirror. The part of the business most difficult to master is the proper position of the

stomach.'" Sardine (American), a man

who has nothing distinctive or characteristic in him; a mere average person; a provincial who has always been shut up in some small place among men like himself. Obviously derived from the sardine, which being all of the same size, and packed in tin boxes, suggested to some

poetic orator the simile. Sardines (Stock Exchange), Royal

Sardinian Railway Stock. Sa soldi (strolling actors, &c.),

sixpence. Sass (African coast). When a

chief or other person becomes too bold, or powerful, or wicked, he is said in English negro slang to "get too much sass.” The remedy for this is to make him drink “sass water." According to news from the West Coast of Africa, there have been some human sacrifices in consequence of the death of a son of the King of Grand Jack. Selected victims were obliged to drink“sass water," a poisonous liquor, and were then pitched into the surf on the seashore. When the rollers dashed them ashore, men, women, and children cut at them with knives until they were dead. The chief of the tribe flies the British flag, and the captain of a trading vessel remonstrated with him in vain.-St. James's Gazette.

Sarah's boots (Stock Exchange),

Sierra Buttes Gold-Mine Shares. Saratoga walk (American), a

fashionable “fad,” fully ex. plained in the following elegant extract from an American newspaper:

“The Saratoga walk is said to be the latest fashionable gait for women. One who describes it says that 'the first requisite is to throw your shoulders back, the chest forward, chin up, and stomach in, and then walk, wriggling head, limbs, body, and especially bustle. The aim is to secure a series of revolutions which shall be simultaneous but opposite. In simple brevity, if your head moves right your body must move to

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Sat. (printers). This is an ab. breviation of the word “satisfaction," and is very often used to express a revengeful feeling, i.e., to have sat. or to be "even” with any one.

A man, charged with a violation of the postal laws, committed in the pursuit of the sawdust or counterfeit money swindle. - Vew York Mercury.

(Popular), not genuine, cajol.

ing.

Satin (popular), gin; a yard of

satin, a glass of gin. Some of them love satin, as a softening

for the throat, While others with dry Heidseck you must woo.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Sauney, sawney (popular

and thieves), bacon, pork. The gypsies, who never confound or mix their own language with canting, say that sani for pork is old Romany. Sawney hunter, one who steals bacon. A sawney

(provincial), a fool. Sausage game (billiards), a Ger

man game.

The palaver was sawdust and treacle.

-Punch. Sawdust bloke (circus), a circus

rider. At the recent performance at Passy, M. Molier was the most conspicuous among the amateurs. To adopt the technology of the ring, M. Molier, by all accounts, approved himself a most accomplished sawdust bloke.—Daily Telegraph. Sawdusty (popular), cajoling,

using flattering and soft words; probably same as “sawder.” Me doing the sawdusty reg'lar, and following swells on the stump.-Punch. Saw your timber (common), be

off ; equivalent to “cut your

stick.” Say it again (tailors), I heartily

endorse your sentiments.

Sawbones (common), a surgeon.

Sawder, soft (popular), properly

solder, cajolery, plausible words; flattery easily laid on, and received with pleasure, like “butter” and “soft soap."

You've got soft sawder enough, as Frank calls it in his new - fashioned slang.Lytton : My Novel. And I also maintain, without any soft

sawder, That Orde is an oar of the very first order ; And whichever crew wins, we may safely

foretell That the crew of Light Blues will this year “bear the Bell."

-Globe. Sawdust (American), counterfeit

gold-dust or money.

Scab (American), an opprobrious

epithet applied to a mechanic or workman who does not belong to the trades' union of his calling. Shakspeare uses the term with the meaning of paltry, mean fellow.

It was a very novel and effective warfare that the wives of the coal strikers used against the imported scab labour on Tues. day. If the bread was as hard as some that is baked in the Pennsylvania bakeries, the loaves must have hurt as well as humili. ated the unwelcome intruders.-New York Sun.

Scabby (printers). In printing,

uneven colour, through bad dis

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tribution of ink, is thus called scabby.

Scab raiser (army), obsolete. A

drummer, as formerly one of the duties of his office was to apply the cat.

Scabs (tailors), button-holes.

Scad (American), abundance, large

quantities, plenty. Hence scad used for money or means. Possibly from Icelandic and Swedish skat, tribute money, tax. Hence “to pay one's scot;" the word scot is, however, generally derived from French écot. His mother wishes to impress him with life's sober realities.

“ Johnny, yesterday is gone, never to return."

"Oh, that don't matter, mamma; there are scads of to-morrows just like it."American Newspaper.

Scalla-wag (American), a scamp,

a scapegrace. I hev travelled o'er this cont'nent from

Quebec to Bogotáw, But setch a set of scallawags as these I never saw.

-The Ballads of Charity. Skall occurs in all the northern tongues as an opprobrious term, and scallu-wag, in the sense of wight, a person, is good old English, from scall (Anglo

Saxon), a scale or scab. Scalp, to (American), to sell

under price. Scaly (popular), shabby, mean,

disreputable, of dubious character; a variation of "fishy.” Sister of L. E. L., of Mrs. Stowe, too; Of E. B. Browning, Harriet Martineau,

too;
Do theologians know where fibbers go

to?
Of dear George Eliot, whom I worship

daily;
Of Charlotte Brontë, and Joanna Baillie.
Methinks that theory is rather scaly.

-J. B. Stephens : To a Black Gin.

Scadger (public school), a mean

fellow,a corruption of “cadger.”

Scaldings (popular), a cry mean

ing “look out,” “get out of the way,” “by your leave.” A warning that someone is coming along with a bucket of hot fluid, soup, tea, or water, which may scald all who impede progress. (Winchester College), used with same meaning.

Scammered (popular), in

toxicated. From scammered, disgraced. Anglo-Saxon scamn, shame; Swedish skämma, to

put to shame. Scamp. Vide ROYAL SCAMP. Scamp, to (popular), to give

short measure or quantity. Also to hurry through a task and do it badly. (Old cant), to scamp on the panny, to be a highwayman.

Scaldrum dodge, a dodge among

begging impostors of burning the body with a mixture of acids and gunpowder, so as to suit the hues and complexions of any accident to be deplored by a confiding public (Hotten).

Scan. (printers), an abbreviation

used to describe a Scandinavian

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Scare up (American), to obtain,

get. “See if you can't scare up five dollars.”

Scarlet fever (common), the

passion for military society. In allusion to the colour of English regimentals. Ladies who run after military society are said to have scarlet fever. So in Australia people who flock to every new-rush (gold-field), in the hopes of finding an El Dorado, are said to suffer from “yellow fever."

Scandal water, slang word for

tea, dating from the hard-drinking days of a bygone generation, when it was fashionable to get drunk, when “drunk as a lord” was a proverbial expression, when a man was accounted the best in a convivial company who first fell senseless from his chair by excess of liquor, and "a three - bottle man” was considered a king of good fellows. Who first shall rise to gang awa,

A coward cuckold loon is he; Who first beside his chair shall fa', He shall be king among us three.

-Robert Burns. · Tea was considered so effeminate a drink that the vulgar bacchanals exerted all the ingenuity they possessed to invent feebly contemptuous names for it-among others “cat-lap,” “scandal broth,” “water bewitched,” “tattle water,” “kettle-brandy."

Scarper, to (thieves and Seven

Dials), to run away. From the
Spanish escapar, or Italian

scappare. Scat (tailors), signifies "go away

and tell it someone else.” Sometimes it is used to express utmost disgust or contempt. Scat is in imitation of trying to

frighten away a cat. Scene rats (theatrical), extras

engaged in ballets or pantomimes.

Scapali (theatrical), to go away.

Also “scaper,” “bunk.” From the Italian scappare, to escape, run away.

Scarecrow (thieves), explained

by quotation. “Never take up with a fresh hand till you've shopped your scarecrow.” The scarecrow is the boy who has served him until he is well known to the police, and is so closely watched that he may as well stay at home as go out. Now, perhaps, you understand. — The Little Ragamuffins.

Schism-shop, cant Anglican for

dissenting chapel. School (popular), a set of regular

passengers by a particular train, travelling as a rule in the same carriage, to and from town. From school of fishes (for shoal). Any small gathering of people generally bent on pleasure, as a school of drinkers in a publichouse or canteen. Much used by soldiers. (Thieves and streets), a gang of thieves, a body of

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idlers or street gamblers, also a number of “patterers” working together.

Schooling (thieves), a term of

detention in an industrial school or reformatory. She is young-just come home from a schooling.–Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

A large box for college men to sit at and keep their books in. When all is ready, the prefect of hall enters school, and takes his seat facing the stove, followed by the members of the three " sixes," and then by all the scholars. who sit on their scobs.-Pascoe: Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Scoff (South African), food. The

term is used by natives in the service of Europeans in South Africa. Skofoor (skoffer), Swedish, is applied to common food, i.e., scrapings.

Schoolman(thieves), a companion,

one of a gang termed "school,"

which see. The knucks in quod my schoolmen did play.

Fake away!

-Ainsworth : Rookwood.

Schools (Oxford), any university

examination at Oxford.

Schooner (American), a large glass

of lager-beer, supposed to hold double the quantity of a fivecent glass, but generally a delu. sion in this respect. A threemasted schooner, a beer schooner of extra size. Originally skew (provincial English), a cup, changed to skew-ner, which is a common Yankee pronunciation of schooner. Every time he wiped out an Indian or strung up a greaser a dude would order a round of beer, and this fellow invariably called for a three-masted schooner.-American Newspaper.

Scoff away, scuff away (Ame

rican) to blow away, to drive away, impel. Probably from

Swedish skuffa. Scoff, scorf, to (South African),

to devour, eat voraciously.

A prospector, with ten donkeys and a waggon, had “outspanned" for the night, during the course of which a hungry lion scoffed (Anglicè, ate) one of the Jerusalems, and, being filled to repletion, was disinclined to wander from the scene. In the early morning, it being rather dark and the prospector and his niggers half asleep, Mr. Leo was“ inspanned” as wheeler in mistake for the missing moke. The eight in front beat their record in the travelling line, and were glad to have the error rectified at dawn.-Sporting Times.

Schoony-orgy (naval), a schooner;

termed also hermaphrodite brig, bastard brig, &c.

Sconce (public schools), a tin

candlestick. Sconce, to (Oxford University), to fine for any breach of etiquette at hall dinner, such as wearing a coloured coat, swearing, or making Latin or Greek quotations. The sconce, or fine, is generally levied in beer. The customs vary at different colleges. Hotten says that if the

Schroff (Anglo-Indian), a banker,

treasurer, or confidential clerk.

· Scob (Winchester College), box

spelt backwards (phonetically).

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offender could, however, floor the tankard of beer which he was sconced, he could retort on his sconcer to the extent of twice the amount he was sconced in.

.. was sconced in a quart of ale for quoting Latin, a passage from Juvenal; murmured, and the fine was doubled. The Etonian.

The term is used by Milton with the meaning of to mulct,

which agree marvellously well with the cases of countless “ cashiered” Republicans re

corded by the Chicago Tribune. Scoot, to (American), to move fast,

to run. A corruption of scud ; from the Dutch schut and schot, a shot. “Dat schip makt schot,” that ship goes a great pace, or sails fast.

The fellow sat down on a hornet's nest, and if he didn't run and holler and scoot through the briar-bushes, and tore his trousers.-Bartlett: Hill's Yankee Stories.

Used also in English sporting circles. I saw that he wanted to serve me out toko, But I swiftly and carefully thwarted his

plans, For I scooted. His blow fell on somebody's boko.

-Bird ó' Freedom.

fine.

Scoop, on the (popular), on the

drink. A metaphor derived from scoop, a ladle for liquors. “You seem to forget, George, that when I married you I could have had young Plutus!”

“A nice sort of husband he'd have made. The blackguard goes home drunk in a cab every night."

“Well, if he does, that's better than returning on the top of a penny 'bus, as you do."

He went on the scoop that night.— Topical Times.

Scorcher (society), a fast or very

lively person. Derived from to scorch, burn up, consume. (Cyclists), one who always goes at racing speed. (Tailors), properly an iron at burning heat; figuratively, an individual of peculiar, eccentric, or basty temperament.

Scoop, to (American). It has

become common of late to speak of any one who has been turned out of office, or been rejected, as scooped. This agrees exactly with the Dutch phrase,“Jemand den schop geven,” to give a man the scoop, or a kick, “to cashier one," as Sewell says. Also “Jemandopdenschop zetten” (schop here means “swing,” as well as scoop), to take to one's self the liberty to cashier a servant or workman at any time, without being bound to employ him any longer. And also “Een schop in 't gat geven,” to give one a kick, or scoop, in the breech. All of

Score off, to (common), to get the

best of one, especially in wordy warfare. From scoring up the points at billiards. I say, old man, that was a stuck-up set of prigs at old Brown's the other night! By Jove, though, I did manage to score off them a bit, eh?—Punch. Scot (popular), a lot, share. An

glo-Saxon sceat, or French écot. Also temper or passion; from the irascible temperament of the

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Scotch, says Hotten. To be in

a scot, to be in a passion. Scotch chocolate (common), milk

with brimstone. Scotchman (South African), a

florin. Scotch peg (roughs' rhyming

slang), a leg. Scout (old cant), a watchman.

(Oxford), a college servant. (Thieves), a watch. From the old provincial scout, a spy, a play on watching and spying. Connor then asked what the article was, to which the answer returned was, “A scout." This he understood to mean a watch.--Scottish Newspaper. Scout, to (sporting), to scout for

pigeons, to shoot pigeons outside the inclosure of a gun-club. Compare scouting for tennisballs and cricket-balls that have

been bit away. Scrag (popular and thieves), the

neck. Derived from scrag, a raw - boned piece, especially a neck-piece of meat. The scrag, the gallows. He is down for his scrag, he is going to be hanged. (Shrewsbury School), explained by quotation.

The highest mark is twenty with a cross ... and so down to a huge duck's egg and a rent across the paper entitled a scrag. - Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Scrag-end, explained by quota

tion.

There is a long and sinuous thoroughfare situate in the heart of London-in-theEast, the real name of which will not be here given, but which, probably because

of the chronic impecuniosity of those who patronise it as a market-place, is popularly known as Scrag-end. It flourishes all the week through, but the time to see it at its busiest is Saturday night, when the glaring jets of gas have just been lit to illuminate the butchers' shops, and the countless costermongers have set their naphtha lamps blazing.-). Greenwood. Scragging (popular), an execu

tion. Vide SCRAG. Scraggy, from the old Norse

skrukka, to shrink, shrivel;

hence applied to a lean neck. Scrag, to (popular and thieves),

to choke, throttle. Vide SCRAG. “Pooh!" says his pal, "you great dunce !

You've pouched the good gentleman's

money,
So out with your whinger at once,
And scrag Jane, while I spificate
Johnny!”

-Ingoldsby Legends. To be scragged, to be hanged. "Do you vant to have us scragged, fool ?" cried the Sandman, springing into the vault.-Ainsworth: Auriol.

For synonyms in English, French, Italian, &c., slang, vide

Barrère's “ Argot and Slang." Scran (popular), food; much

used in the army. A scran-bag is a food wallet; a scran, a meal. A common Irish phrase, “bad scran to you," i.e., I wish

you bad food. But ere for the scran he had left the

Cole,
The Harman he came in.

-Harlequin Sheppard. His club, Charlie, 'ad a reception, Which means a big crowd and cold scran.

-Punch. (Beggars), food or pieces of meat, broken victuals. Scran

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Swedish skrap, a difficulty, which has given the English “scrape.” Vide SCRAPPER.

Tom O'Connell and Bob Banner had a scrap on last Tuesday afternoon at Chipeta Park. Six rounds were fought, and from the appearance of the gloves, which were covered with blood, some hard hitting was done.-The Solid Muldoon, Otway, Colorado. Scrap, to (popular), to fight or

box. Also used in America.

ning, or out on the scran, begging for broken victuals. The term scran was originally used in a deprecatory sense, from scrans, provincial English for refuse, or more probably from to scranch, to grind crackling food between the teeth. Dutch schransen, a greedy feeder; schransen, to eat greedily. These Dutch words indicate that there is a Teutonic as well as a Celtic original for scran, food, if the act of eating may be assumed as of the same

origin with that which is eaten. Scranning (beggars and tramps),

begging for food. Scrape (common), a shave. Scraper (common), a razor. Scrapper (popular), a pugilist ;

given in Jon Bee's dictionary of the turf, 1823. Also used in America. Probably from the movements of a pugilist, who appears to scrape with his feet. People who have of late been playing at pugilism have their own organs, which are not only organs, but partisans also. Thus they, the players, don't want me to break a lance in their behalf; and yet I note that those who have taken upon themselves the rôle of advisers and directors of the toy pugilism which has so aroused Mr. Howell's wrath, have said never a word in defence of the queer thing about which they have for months been making so much vapour. Has the spirit of Bombastes affected the directors and controllers as well as the Lowther Arcade scrappers ? The Referee.

Scrap up (popular), having a scrap

up is having a quarrel, a row. Scratch (common), a scratch crew,

team, or eleven, consists of men who have not practised together and are collected on the spur of the moment. To come up to the scratch is a colloquialism, meaning to meet the point of issue, to enter the contest. Sir Bingo . . . eyed his friend with a dogged look of obstinacy, expressive, to use his own phrase, of a determined resolution to come up to the scratch. -Scott: St. Ronan's Well.

In debate, to be brought up to the scratch, to be compelled to come to the point. Technically the scratch is a line at the starting-point of a race, or the mark which is scratched or chalked on the ground in the middle of the “ring,” hence the expression coming up to the scratch. Also toeing the scratch, being ready at the post in time. The rules of the prize-ring require each man to have his toe on the scratch within eight seconds of "time" called on pain of losing the battle. He must walk to the scratch unaided. This rule

Scrap, scrapping (popular), a

fight, boxing, a rough and tumble row. Also used in America. Suggested to be from

Scratch-Screw.

203

was adopted after the fatal fight between Owen Swift and Phelps in 1838, when the latter died of exhaustion, having been brought up to the scratch by his second under the older rule. Vide OLD SCRATCH, to which add, Scrat is the house-demon of the North. In Lancashire “owd Scrat.”

Scream, to (thieves). When a

thief is robbed by another and he applies to the police, he is said to scream. More commonly

in America to squeal. Screen (thieves), a note. Screen

is apparently an old term for money. Provincial scrin, a small vein of ore. Scandinavian and Teutonic skrin, a little box for money. Swedish skrin-lägga, to lay up money. Readily the queer screens I then could smash,

Fake away!
-Ainsworth: Rookwood.

Scratching rake (popular), a

comb. Scratch, no great (popular), of

little worth. The allusion is to

a fowl scratching for food. Scratch-race (turf), a technical

expression, meaning a race without any restrictions. To scratch is a technical turf term, meaning to strike a horse's name out of the list of runners in a particular race. Generally to eliminate the name of any candidate from a list in any kind of competition.

A series of scratchings, most unpopular, will leave unpleasant memories clinging round each of the big handicaps named above.-Sporting Times. Scratch your wool (tailors), try

to recollect.

Screeve (thieves and beggars),

a begging petition. Vide To

SCREEVE. Screever (street), a street artist,

and beggar who ornaments the pavements with drawings in coloured chalks. Vide To

SCREEVE. Screeve, to (thieves and beggars),

to write; to screeve a fakement, to write a begging-letter. From provincial scrive, obsolete English, to scribe, to write. To screeve also means to draw on the pavement with coloured chalks. Ah! once I could screcve a fakement or cooper a monekur with any man alive. -Mayhew: London Labour and London Poor. Screw (general), salary, wages.

The metaphor implies efforts on the part of the employer to diminish the rate, or the efforts of the employé to enforce unwilling payment of, the

Screamer (American), an extra

ordinary person, a great swell; from a metaphor similar to that from which arose the expression screaming, which see.

Screaming (common), first-rate,

splendid. A screaming farce, one that makes the audience scream with laughter.

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deranged. (American Univer sity), a searching or strict examination of a student by an examiner or instructor.

salary, which has to be screwed out.

If I got any practice he would have an excuse for knocking £100 or so off my screw.-Truth.

'Twas Monday morn, And he had wasted all his weekly screw, And was in debt some sixpences besides.

-Australian Printers' Keepsake. Drat those clerks, they always want holidays. I'll stop it out of their screw though. -Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday.

(Popular), explained by quotation.

That would have interfered with the order for screws, penny papers of tobacco. -Mayhew: London Labour and the London Pcor.

(Thieves), a key, skeleton key.

It was a good job I did, or else I should have got lagged, and my pal too, because I had the James and screws.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

A jailer, turnkey, prison war.

Screwed (general), intoxicated, a

synonym of “tight,” the metaphor being the same. By Jove, you must have been screwed. Then, I dare say, you don't remember wanting to have a polka with him.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

An unsexed woman shouting a song at the top of a brazen voice, with an imitation “how her old man got screwed."-Evening News.

Screwing up (Oxford University),

explained by quotation. At present friction occurs between unpopular “Dons” and rowdy students. The Don finds himself screwed up, or, in other words, imprisoned to his room by a gimlet thrust into the door in such a way that it requires the aid of a carpenter to unfasten it.—Daily Telegraph. Screwsman (thieves), a burglar;

a screw being a skeleton key. One day after this I asked a screwsman if he would lend me some screws, because I had a place cut and dried.- Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

der.

My next neighbour, who had been a bank manager, asked, “What implement in a carpenter's shop does the chief warder look like?” The response was, “A screwdriver.” The officers were always desig. nated screws, so the description was not improper.- Evening News.

To put the screw on, to extort money by threats. In allusion to the old torture of the fingerscrew. Is it true you was pinched for putting the screw on an omnibus conductor?Sporting Times.

In common parlance, to apply pressure by threats or otherwise so as to enforce acqui. escence. (Common), used in the phrases “a screw loose somewhere," something wrong. “He has a screw loose,” he is slightly

Screw, to (common), to extort.

(Thieves), to enter a house by means of skeleton keys. So we went and screwed his place, and got thirty-two quid, and a toy and tackle which he had bought on the crook. --Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(American University), vide SCREW.

Scrimshandy (nautical), an Ame

ricanism, signifying the objects in ivory and bone carved by whalemen during their long

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voyages. Synonymous with

“scrimshaw,” which see. Scrimshanker (army), one,

whether officer or soldier, who is not over keen for danger, whether on active service or at home. One who has avoided his turn of foreign service, who malingers or feigns illness to escape duty. Scrimshanker, or idle shuffler, is also used at some public schools to signify a lazy, good-for-nothing fellow. Probably from scrimp, to shorten, to stint or contract, and swanker, labour; Danish skrumpe, German

schrumpen, Dutch krimpen. Scrimshank, to (military), to

shirk one's duty. Vide SCRIM

SHANKER. Scrimshaw-work (nautical), any.

thing made by sailors for themselves in their leisure hours. Scroby or claws for breakfast

(prison), whipping while in

prison. Scroof, to (thieves), to sponge, to

live with a friend at his expense. Thieves are in the habit of scroofing with an old pal when they first come out of prison, till they can steal something for themselves. This seems to be a

form of scoff, scorf, which see. Scroofer (thieves), a sponge, a

parasite. Scrouge (American University),

an exaction, a specially hard task.

Scrouge, to (American Uni

versity), a term applied to an exacting tailor or master who extorts a maximum quantity of work from his pupils. (Popular), to crush, crowd, or squeeze. “This term was made familiar in the language of literature by Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge. It is the old English scruze, to squeeze or crush, and seems to have no native origin. It is perhaps from Spanish estrujar, to press, strain or thrust, which is derived from Latin extorculare, to press out (as wine from grapes); torculum, a press, from torqueo, to twist” (Smythe A.

Palmer). Then atweene her lilly handes twaine Into his wound the juice thereof did scruze.

-Spenser: Faerie Queene. Scrub (American), synonymous

with the English “screw" for a horse of little value. When the regiment was ordered to charge, they raised the rebel yell and rushed forward; but the colonel's horsean old scrub he had borrowed—“bucked” and refused to move.-Harper's Magasine.

The English scrub is expressive of meanness. A "scrubrace" is a race in which low and contemptible animals are made to run. (American University), a servant. (Australian), shrub. bery, low underground.

Scrubbers (Australian), explained

by quotation.

The captain was getting in the scrubbers, cattle which had been left to run wild through the mountains. - H. Kingsley : Geoffry Hamlyn.

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Scrubbing (Winchester College),

a flogging in which four cuts

were administered. Scruff, to (Australian), to seize as

if seizing by the scruff or back part of the neck. In crossing the Fitzroy River I once had a narrow escape of being scruffed by an alligator.–Finch - Hatton : Advance Australia.

Scruling (Westminster College),

the inquiry made on the first day of election week by the warden and posers of the F. seniors and F. juniors in college as to whether they have any complaint to make as to the

state of things in college. Scrumptious (popular), nice,

select. Ow are yer, my ribstone? Seems scrump

tious to write the old name, I 'ave quite lost the run of you lately. Bin playing some dark little game?

-Punch. Scrumptious or skrumshus is a Suffolk word for stingy, close, or very particular, from the same root as scrimp, and it does not mean so much pleasant or agreeable as select or choice, some

thing which is scrimped. Scruncher (American and Eng.

lish), one who eats greedily.

Scrunch, to crunch (Wright). Scuddick (old cant), halfpenny;

from Italian scudi, crowns,

change. Scuds (American), money ; Eng

lish skids, sovereigns. Possibly in the sense of shiners; from

the Dutch schit, i.e., skit, schitter, to shine, glitter, or sparkle; or

from the Italian scudi, crowns. Scuff (thieves), a crowd. A pick

pocket may have a companion whose sole function it is to “get up a scuff,” to provide opportunity and to conceal the operations of his friend. This is done by feigning a fit, by a sham quarrel, &c. Also “push.” The derivation is evidently from scuffle, a tumultuous broil ; Saxon scufian, to push. While we was there we saw a scuff: it was a flat that had been welshed.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Scug (Eton and Harrow), a boy who is not distinguished in person, in games, or social qualities. One of untidy, dirty, or ill-mannered habits; one whose sense of propriety is not fully developed. Provincial scug, one who hides or sneaks away.

Bathing was always in great favour with the Eton boys. A boy who did not bathe was called a scug.-C. T. Buckland: Eton Fifty Years Ago. Scumble, to (studios), to glaze

pictures with an opaque colour. Scurf (costermongers), a term ap

plied to mean, close-fisted costermongers by their fellows. “There's a scurf,” said one.—London Labour and the London Poor. Scuttle - mouths (Billingsgate),

very large shelly oysters. Scuttle, to (roughs and thieves),

to stab, rip a man open. From the ordinary meaning of the word, or gypsy scattle, to kill.

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Three persons were charged with being accessory to the murder of John Brady in a scuttling affray.--.Scotsman. Sea cunny (Anglo-Indian), a steers

man or quartermaster. Persian sukkāni, from the Arabic sukkān,

a helm. Sea-grocer (nautical), the purser. Seal, a religious slang term for a

convert. In the phraseology of Mormons, a wife. Sealed (American), originally used

by the Mormons to intimate that wives are appointed or united by eternal destiny to a man. A source of many slang phrases, and not a few unseemly puns and jokes.

A young Mormon wife, in a fit of absentmindedness at the post-office, dropped herself into the box, and let the letter walk home, nor did she find out her mistake till the clerk asked her if she were double or single? “Young man,” she replied, “don't you know that I'm sealed?" - Newspaper jokes. “My wives, Mr. Ward,” sed Yung.

“Your sarvant, Marms,” sed I, as I sot down in a cheer which a gal brawt me.

“Besides these wives you see here, Mister Ward," sed Yung, “I hev eighty more in varis parts of this consecrated land which air sealed to me."

“Which ?” sez I, gittin' up and starin' at him.

“Sealed, sir! sealed !”.
" Wharebouts ?" sez I.

“ I sed, sir, that they was sealed.” He spoke in a traggerdy voice.-Artemus Ward.

heard that sailors on a voyage will drink 'friends astern 'till they are half-way over, then 'friends ahead.' Could this custom be the origin of the phrase? . . . Though the phrase is never used, I believe, to denote a person completely drunk, it originally implied semi-intoxication."—Notes and Queries. Sea, to be at (common), to be

lost, to know nothing about a matter; to be uninformed, un

certain. Second-hand daylight (popular),

the light of another world. Apparently a vulgar version of the light that never shines on sea or land.

The other night she came with a candle in one hand and a sixpenny dagger in the other, and started on me in this style—“Where is the old kangaroo? Let me get at him, and I'll treat him to twopennyworth of second-hand daylight?"Music Hall Song: Why don't you be steady, Maria? Second timer (prison), a man

convicted and sentenced for the second time.

I have known hundreds of men who were second timers, who in a ten years' sentence had got twenty-seven months' remission, who were compelled to do the whole of this time in addition to what they got in the second sentence.-Evening News. See (American), a sight. “She

determined that the world should have an opportunity of seeing her three babes, or trins, or triplets, at twenty-five cents a see,” says an Illinois news

paper.
See a man, to (American), to

go and have a drink at the
bar.

Seas over, half. Vide HALF-SEAS

OVER, to which may be added the following explanation :

Dr. S. G. Green, in his life of William Wilberforce, the philanthropist, states that he (Wilberforce) would say, "I have often

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And have acquired a rife experience, Send sons forth one by one to found fresh hives. -Douglas B. W. Sladen: Home

in Australia.

Seedy (common), unwell. The metaphor refers to a plant run to seed, and consequently withering. Also shabby. Would it not be better for you to receive part (perhaps all) of your money by a wise concealment? for however seedy Mr. Bag. shot may be now, if he hath really played the frolic with you, you may believe he will play it with others. — Fielding: Jonathan Wild.

Little Flanigan here is a little seedy, as we say among us that practise the law.Goldsmith.

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Selector, free (Australian), a

farmer.

I venture to differ from my correspondent when, in telling me that "cocky" is Australian argot for a small farmer, he adds, “By-the-bye, you never hear the word “farmer' over there; it is always selector or 'squatter."" But I beg to state that many scores of times at the Antipodes I have heard agriculturists whose holdings were small, spoken of, not as “cockies” but as “cockatoo farmers ;” while to the term selector was generally prefixed the adjective “free." - Illustrated London News.

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Sei. Vide SOLDI.

Sell (common), disappointment.

deception, practical joke. Mr. Verdant Green having swallowed this, his friend was thereby enabled not only to use up old sells, but also to draw largely on his invention for new ones.C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Selection (Australian), a kind of

farm. The principle of freeselection is established in all the self-governing Australian colonies. The Government throws open such and such an area of the crown lands for free-selection and then any one is allowed to select or take up so much land, usually 320 or 640 acres, paying at the rate of a pound an acre, the payment being spread over a number of years, residence on the area selected for so many years, and certain improvements within a prescribed time being conditions attached. As these selections are generally taken up for farms, a selection has come to mean pretty much the same as a farm, though it has this technical meaning.. Here they can breed a sturdy family To help them farm more highly, as more

mouths Demand subsistence from the same

selection, And when they grow too many for its

means

Sell, to (common), to deceive,

swindle, play a practical joke upon a person. Said to be from a cheap Jack's phrase, “sold again,” after selling his goods. To sell a pup, to make a fool of one.

Send a man up Green River, to

(American), i.e., to kill him. The phrase, on De Vere's authority, had its origin in a once famous factory on Green River, where a superior kind of large knife was made, very popular among hunters and trappers. On the blade the words “Green River Works” were engraved, and hence the mountaineers,

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using the knife to despatch an adversary, literally sent his

blood up Green River. Send - off notice (common), an

obituary notice. After the funeral Huggins behaved handsome; he put the Scalper into deep mourning, and wrote a beautiful send-off notice saying what a loss the community had suffered in Scrimmy's untimely end. - The Golden Butterfly. Sensation (popular), a quartern

of gin. Sent down (University), rusti

cated, sent away for a certain lapse of time. When “Billy” Wykeham gave to his colleges at Winchester and Oxford the motto “ Manners makyth man," we wonder if he considered the publication of skits upon “dons" to be a breach of scholarly manners. The trustees of University traditions at Oxford have, however, no doubts upon the subject, and yesterday an undergraduate of New was sent down for irreverent jibes, published in an undergraduate paper for which he was held responsible.-Globe. Sentry go (army), properly the

cry made by the sentry nearest the guard-house when it is time for him to be relieved, and which reminds the sergeant or corporal to turn out the next relief. Sentry go has come to be accepted as the term for any kind of active military duty. A sentry go soldier is one who is always at duty, and in the lesser sense always at the most ordinary form of duty.

Separates (prison), the first nine months of a sentence of penal servitude, which are passed in separate and solitary confinement in Pentonville or Millbank prisons before going to a con

vict prison. Serang (Anglo-Indian), a native boatswain or chief of a Lascar crew, the skipper of a small native vessel. Persian sarhang,

a commander or overseer. Serene, all (popular), all right. So fur all serene ; but this joker, I tell yer,

runs slap orf the track Wen he says that my togs and my talk are “the fashion of sev'ral years back.”

-Punch.
She saw he needed friendly aid,
To grant it she was not afraid,
Thought she, “It's all serene !"

-Sporting Times.

Sergeant-major (butchers), an

expression used by butchers in garrison towns to denote a large piece of mutton in the rib part. So called obviously from the white stripes like sergeants'

stripes. Sergeant-major's brandy and

soda (army), a stable jacket

gold laced. Sergeant - major's wash cat

(army), a new kit. The troop store man; a term in the cavalry where the troop sergeantmajor has an orderly man or assistant who looks after the

stores. Servante, the concealed shelf at

the back of a conjuror's table.

Sep (American cadet), a cadet who joins the academy in Sep. tember. VOL. II.

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Serve, to (thieves), to undergo

penal servitude. He laid claim to have served both in Maidstone gaol and the prison of Wandsworth. - Greenwood : In Strange Company. Serving out slops (nautical),

punishment on the gangway. Se, sey, say (costermongers,

shows, &c.), yes. From the Ita.

lian si. Sessions (popular), an exclama

tion of surprise. Set about, to (popular), to chas

tise, beat, thrash.

This got to my father's ears. When I went home he set about me with a strap. -Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Set 'em up, to (American), to treat

with drinks.

They threaten to make him set 'em up every time he tumbles in hereafter.-T. Stevens : Around the World on a Bicycle. Set her up againl also, set 'em

up again! (American), try again,
begin once more. An encourag-
ing exhortation to any one.
Taken from the game of ten-
pins, where it is a cry to the boy
when all the “men” are down.
Rip Sam! set her up again!
Set her up again, set her up again!
Rip Sam! set her up again!
We're all of the Choctaw tribe !

-Old Song Setter (old cant), a spy. (Thieves),

a policeman in disguise or a man in the employ of the police (the French “indicateur") who points out the thief for others to arrest. (Costermongers and others), sevenpence; from Italian sette.

Set up (American), conceited.

“You needn't be so set up about it," is a very common expres

sion. Seven pennyworth (thieves),

seven years' penal servitude. Sewed up (popular), vide SEWN

UP. Sewer (London), the Under

ground Railway.

The sewer, as it was called by the old school, would be sure to monopolise all traffic.-Graphic. Sewn up (common), exhausted,

or simply sewn. Sewn up is probably only one of slang's ingenious variations of “finished," “done,” &c., also intoxicated. He . . . has twice had Sir Rumble Tumble . . . up to his place, and took care to tell you that some of the party were pretty considerably sewn up too.Thackeray: Shabby-Genteel Story.

(Popular), having no work to do, drunk. Shabash! (Anglo-Indian), well

donel bravo! From the Persian
shāh-bāsh, rex fias, thou shalt
become a king! The authors
of the Anglo-Indian Glossary
very happily and ingeniously
illustrate this interjection with
the following quotation.
“At pueri ludentes, rex eris, aiunt,
Si recte facies.”

– Horace, Epist. I., i. So boys in play cry out, “Thou shalt be

king,
If thou dost rightly!”

Used also in America.
Shack (West American), a hut.

It happened one Sunday afternoon that I, Scott, Davidson, Hank, and Mitchell

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Shadder, for shadow, a woman

who watches prostitutes termed dress-women.

She's a dress-woman, that's what she is ... one of them that they tog out that they may show off at their best and make the most of their faces . . . they can't trust 'em ... you might tell that by the shadder. – J. Greenwood: Seven Curses of London.

Shade, to (thieves), to conceal,

keep secret.

I felt 'alf inclined to dance, till I remembered as I must shade it from Jem, and the boys, or they'd be wanting their corner, and I didn't bloomin' well feel inclined to cut up my luck. - Sporting Times.

Shady (common), dishonest,

questionable, of doubtful pro

priety. Although it may be shady when you wish

to mash a lady, To wink at her and simply whisper, “ Tottie !"

-Bird o Freedom. A shady trick is a mean one or a contemptible one, from the want of ability displayed. Shag back, to, to hesitate and

hang back in the field before the enemy, or in a lesser de. gree, when hunting or riding a steeplechase, to crane at and refuse a fence. From a pro

Shadkin (American), a marriage broker. From the Yiddish shadchen, also called a “chasseremschlupfer.” “A chasseremschlupfer is abner der a Hoch

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vincial term (Gloucestershire),

to shag, to slink away. Shah (popular), a great swell.

“Guessed it in once, old Ogsland !” went on Posh. “Perish me pink if it wasn't a bloomin' copper, all as blue as mould! And wasn't he a shah, neither!” -Sporting Times. Shake (popular), a prostitute;

probably from the provincial shake, futuere. In the north shakes means a bad character. (Printers), an expression used to describe a "slur” or “maekle” in a printed sheet, caused by

uneven impression or “drag." Shake a stick at, to (American),

a very common expression, meaning “more than can be counted.” Thus, "there are more people there than you can shake a stickat.” Another meaning is “worthless," as for instance, “there was nothing there to eat, worth shaking a stick at.” As regards the former, it has always seemed to the writer that it must have been of New York Dutch origin, and perhaps in its first form was “more than you can shake” or “hit with a stick.” In Dutch schok (like stoot) is, according to Sewel, not only to shake but to hit. And it would be a very likely thing for a Dutchman endeavouring to say that there was more fruit or nuts on a tree than you could strike with a stick, to say, “more than you could strike at with a stick" and translate the word with “shake." Such an ex

pression is too natural not to have occurred, and too quaint not to catch the American fancy for odd sayings. Thus “tie the dog loose,” from some German's version of losbinden, “ tar him mit fedders," for “tar and feather him," and “trow him mit ecks," pelt him with eggs, have all become

"household words in the street.” Shake-lurk (old cant), a letter

prepared for a vagabond stating that he has incurred a great loss, such as sickness or shipwreck. As it is a lying letter, it is probable that the term owes its origin to the Yiddish shakar, a falsehood. Also scheiker. But it is quite as possible that shake is the provincial “shack," a vagabond. Shipwreck is called a shake-lurk, loss by fire is a glim.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Shaker (popular), an omnibus, a

shirt. Shake, shakes (American), a fair a

skake, a good opportunity, offer, bargain or chance. Provincial

English shakes, a bargain. Shakes (common), no great shakes,

not much, of a poor description, not up to much. Will Douglas, no great shakes at metre, did write these lines.- T. Carlyle: Cromwell's Letters.

And though the acting was no great shakes, yet the singing was, and her last note took us and everybody else by surprise.-Punch.

“Well, he's no great shakes," returned the coal-whipper's wife, in relenting tones;

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of shakes.” Supposed to be from a shake in music, but really from provincial English shake, a quick motion. Compare with the French “en deux temps," in an instant; literally in two motions, from a fencing term.

Now Dragon could kill a wolf in a brace of shakes.-Reade: Cloister and Hearth. I'll be back in a couple of shakes, So don't, dears, be quivering and trembling.

-Ingoldsby Legends : Babes

in the Wood.

“ he's had a homin', as he calls it, and that always upsets him.”-). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

“It is probable that shakes here is identical with the provincial word shake, to brag, which must be of ancient usage, as we find 'schakare, or cracker, or booste maker, Iactator, philocompus,' in the Promptorium Parvulorum, about 1440. These words are near akin to Danish skogger, noisy, roaring (in skogger-latter, roar of laughter, &c.), Icelandic skak, skakr, a noise. For the change of meaning from making a noise,' to 'boasting,' compare crack, old English crake, any loud noise, a boast, a brag (cf. 'a crack regiment,' one to boast of); brag, to make a loud noise (akin to bray, Latin fragor), to boast. Thus no great shakes would mean nothing to make a noise or brag about. Otherwise we may look for it in the provincial shakes, a bargain, comparing Danish skakkre, to peddle, or buxter; Icelandic skakka, to balance. These latter words seem to be cognate with Anglo-Saxon scacan ; Icelandic skaka, to shake or wave (of the balance), just as weigh and wag are related" (A. Smythe Palmer). It has also been suggested that no great shakes may possibly be attributed to the expression to shake the elbow, i.e., to play at dice, thus, no great shakes, a

bad throw. Shakes, in a brace of (popular),

in an instant. Also “in a couple

Shakester, shickster (popular),

a female. “Amongst costermongers this term is invariably applied to ladies or the wives of tradesmen, and females generally, of the classes immediately above them” (Hotten). In America a shakester is a lady, and shickster a woman. Derived from the GermanHebrew shigsel, shixen, shichsle, a girl. In Yiddish vocabulary it is defined as a Christian girl.

Shakes, the (theatrical), a

synonym for stage fright. No actor or actress, worthy of the name, ever goes on the stage for a new part, without suffering from this most terrible of all complaints. Most actors feel it more or less every night for a few moments previous to making their appearance before the public. The emotional temperament, and the tendency to hysteria, which are the distinguishing characteristics of all great artists, render them peculiarly susceptible to the shakes.

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Shake the ghost into one, to

(popular), to frighten one. Shake the red rag, to (tailors),

to threaten to discharge. The red rag here probably means

the tongue. Shake, to (Australian popular),

to steal. Originally imported by convicts into New South Wales, this word has passed into universal use among school. boys, bushmen, shepherds, &c. When “taking” is stealing, it is called shaking. When “taking" is only a breach of etiquette, it is called “jumping;” you would shake a person's watch, but you would only "jump" the seat which he had

engaged in a railway carriage. Shake up (American), to obtain,

get, procure. As if one had got game by shaking up or beating the bushes or coverts.

I never saw such magnificent weather for drying clothes. They don't shake up any such climate as this in Italy.-Max Adeler. Shaking a cloth in the wind

(nautical), slightly intoxicated, a drunken man being unsteady, like a sail that trembles in the

wind. Shallow (popular), a barrow used

by costermongers.

And here they are after it-in vehicles for the greater part; in carts and “halfcarts," and shallows and barrows. — J. Greenwood: Low-Life Deeps.

Also basket. The square and oval shallow fastened in front of the fruit-woman with a strap round

the waist.—Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

(Beggars), the shallow dodge, explained by quotation. It may be here mentioned that the “shaller," or more properly shallow dodge, is for a beggar to make capital of his rags, and a disgusting condition of semi-nudity; to expose his shoulders, and his knees, and shirtless chest, pinched and blue with cold. A pouncing of the exposed parts with common powder blue is found to heighten the frost-bitten effect, and to excite the compassion of the charitable.-J. Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

The shallow brigade, the fraternity of “shallow coves," which see. People got fly to the shallow brigade.Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Shallow cove, shivering Jemmy

(popular), a beggar of the male kind, half naked, who goes about telling frightful tales about shipwrecks, hairbreadth escapes from houses on fire, &c. ; “shallow mot" is the female. Also shallow bloke. “What do you call a shallow bloke ?" “He is a cove that acts the turnpike sailor; pretends he has been shipwrecked and so on.”—Temple Bar.

A beggar of this description is said to go on the shallows. This word is possibly connected with to shale, to shell, take the

shell or coat off. Shandy-gaff (common), a drink

composed half of beer, half of ginger beer. Sometimes stout or other liquors are used instead of beer.

This functionary has a staff of natives under him for the purpose of serving out the beer, rum, soda water, and lemonade,

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his silence regarding the affair, owing to its apparent improbability and a desire to escape exposure.-Evening News.

the latter cooling drinks, which are always kept in ice, being very much used by some of the thirsty souls for the purpose of making shandy-gaff.-Brunlees Patter. son: Life in the Ranks. Shaney, shanny (popular), a fool.

Probably from the expression
shanny-pated, giddy-pated, i.e.,
with no more brains than a
shanny, a small fish that lurks
under stones and weeds.

And out ran every soul beside,
A shanny-pated crew.

- Bloomfield: The Horkey. Or perhaps from the Yiddish scheïna, meaning the same. Vide

SHEENY. Shanghai (Australian), a boy's

catapult. Small birds are not favourite quarry of the small Australian catapulter ; like his rival, the larrikin, his special prey is the Chinaman. In the writer's memory, even the sons of high police officials found themselves in the dock charged with shanghai-ing Chinamen. Perhaps the instrument is so called in delicate allusion to those whom it is used to

execute. (American), a dandy. Shanghai-ing (nautical), ex

plained by quotation. I fail to find the term Shanghai-ing in either slang or other dictionary, although, amongst sailors, it is a common word, denoting a common occurrence. Anglicised, it means,“ Catching an unsuspecting landsman near a ship wanting hands; drugging and robbing him; shipping him as an A.B., and securing his first month's wages in advance." The authors of this villainy rely for security principally on the chance of death at sea, and then, should the improvised sailor succeed in reaching land safely, on

Shank, the (American), the balance, what remains; as, for example, one friend might say to another, “Suppose you come in and spend the shank of the evening with me?” ¿.e., the lesser or later part.

The old Kentuckian who in the shanks of the evening was wont to maintain there was no such thing as bad Kentucky whisky, admitted with extreme reluctance, even in the early sermons and soda-water period of the day after, that it might be possible some Kentucky whisky was better than others.-W. A. Paton : Down the Islands. Shant of gatter (vagrants), ex

plained by quotation.

They have a shant of gatter (pot of beer) at the nearest boozing-ken. - Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Shan't play, I (Australian popu

lar), I am annoyed, I don't like it. A metaphor taken from children peevish over a game saying, I shan't play. If a person is being chaffed, or if he finds a thing difficult, such as climbing up the soft ashes near the top of Vesuvius, he would say, I shan't play.

Shanty (circus and showman), a

public-house is always called by this name. Properly shanty is a mean dwelling-hut, temporary building or erection, said to be from Irish sean, old; and tig, a house (Webster). The word is, however, claimed to be of American origin, from Canadian

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French chantier, meaning the same. (Nautical), a song.

It was a tough pull, as the shark was over fifteen feet in length, until the mate suggested a shanty, or sea-song, a corruption of the French word chanter, which a fo'cs'le Mario commenced, and the rest joined in vigorous chorus. So Carcharias vulgaris, as naturalists call the white shark, left his native element to the rousing strains of

“ Were you ever in Quebec,

Ho, la ! ho, la!
Hoisting timber on the deck!

Ho, la ! ho, la !
With a will now-Heave, oh!”

– Detroit Free Press.
A contributor to a London
journal declares that this is not
a true sailor's word, but of
literary origin, and only of late
years.

Shape (American), “ to travel on

one's shape” is to get on, or pay debts, or live or succeed by the virtue of prepossessing looks. He has no more sense than a shad, you

know,
Nor half the wit of an ape;
But he'll get on while here below,
By travelling on his shape.

-Ballad : Beautiful Billy. Shaps (American), leather leg

gings. Probably from shap (provincial English) tight-laced, shapely, fit, comely. Shapes, a tight-laced, jaunty girl.

A pair of shaps or leather overalls, with tags and fringes down the seams.-Alex. Stavely Hill: From Home to Home. Shark (army), a recruit. (Yale

University), reckless absence from college, or shirking of its duties. Applied both to the thing itself and to the person.

(Common), a sharper, rogue, or cheat. “Commonly supposed to be a figurative use of the word shark. It is really a slightly disguised form of German schurke, a cheat or knave; Dutch schurk, a shark, rascal” (Sewel). The French “requin de terre," for an attorney, seems, however, to support the figura

tive use of shark, the fish. Shark, to (nautical), to purloin.

In the mess I was in, we took up our full whack of provisions, comprising three tins of preserved Fanny Adams, a certain amount of flour, fat, and figs, which we had saved, and of course, salt horse, and salt pork; well that, and what we sharked. We were determined to have a grand flare-up, as regards our bread-baskets.Tit-Bits. Sharp. “A similar expression to

two pun' ten,' used by assistants in shops to signify that a customer of suspected honesty is amongst them. The shopman in this case would ask one of the assistants, in a voice loud enough to be generally heard, 'Has Mr. Sharp come in

yet'" (Hotten). Shave (common), a narrow escape.

Hotten has “a false alarm, a hoax, a sell. This term was much in vogue in the Crimea during the Russian campaignthat is, though much used by the military before then, the term did not, until that period, become known to the general public.” Almost invariably

heard as a close shave. Shaver (popular), a very short

jacket. A cunning fellow, one

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keen in making bargains, close-
shaving being sharp dealing. A
little, insignificant man.

And yet, wi' funny, queer Sir John,
He was an unco'shaver,
For monie a day.

-Burns: A Dream. Among all the characters which he bears in the world, no one has ever given him credit for being a cunning shaver (be it here observed in a parenthesis that I suppose the word shaver in this so common expression to have been corrupted from shaveling, the old contemptuous word for a priest). --Southey: The Doctor. Much did Aunt Fan disapprove of the

plan; She turned up her dear little snub at "the

man." She “could not believe it” – “could

scarcely conceive it Was possible.” What! such a place ! and

then leave it ! And all for a “ shrimp” not as high as my

hat! A little contemptible shaver like that! With a broad pancake face, and eyes

Shaving through (common), just

escaping failure at an examination, or in anything. Shebang (American), a shanty, or

small house of boards. No one has ever explained the origin of this term, but it may be noted that there are exactly seven board-surfaces in a shanty, the four upright sides, the two sides of the roof, and the floor, and that the word shebang, in

Hebrew, means seven. For last night we had a tempest-while

the mighty thunder rang, Up there came a real guster, which blew

down the whole shebang. Shebang is a word from Hebrew, meaning

seven sayeth Krupp, And applied to any shanty where they play at seven-up. - The Story of Mr. Scroper,

Architect. Shed a tear, to (common), taking

a glass of spirits. In the early part of the eighteenth century, in the days of Allan Ramsay, the Scottish poet, the phrase for a dram was a “bender,” from the action of bending the elbow to raise the glass to the lips. The modern phrase applied to a drunkard, “he crooks his elbow,” is synonymous. French “lever le coude.” The Ameri. cans call a dram of alcohol a smile; and the question, “ Will you smile?” signifies “Will you drink?"

buried in fat!

-Ingoldsby Legends. In the latter meaning the word is possibly from the gypsy sharie, chavy, or chavo, a child or son. In old provincial English, however, a shaving is anything small, and shaver a small child.

Shave, to (drapery trade), to

charge a customer for an article more than the marked price. When the master sees an opportunity of doing this he strokes his chin as a signal to his assistant (Hotten). Ladies are the chief customers at drapers', and this process is facetiously described as “shaving the ladies.”

Shee (Charterhouse), a plum

pudding or cake. Sheen (Scotch), bad money.

Probably alluding to the “glit

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ter," or possibly from German

schein, a bank-bill. Sheeny (Yiddish and popular), a

common and not very respectful word for a Jew, used principally in the slang of the Goyim or Gentiles, but also to be heard in jest among Jews. It is probably taken from scheina -“ scheïna jaudea lïschkol”-a stupid fellow who does not know enough to ask or inquire. Schien, a policeman, and schiener, a house-thief, may have contributed to form this rather

from an imaginary flyer. It is possible that originally the idea was that when each man was told his start, he would not know the exact distance he had to run, but the whole affair is

shrouded in mystery. Shekels (London), money, coin.

Properly an ancient Jewish coin, in value about 2s. 6d. When you've been racing, and raked in the shekels, and you come back to Romano's and order a “Noisette de Brébant,” you get a mutton-chop with the bone taken out.-Sporting Times. Shelf, on the (popular), in pawn.

(Army), under arrest. Shell-back (nautical), a sailor;

also “old shell."

obscure word.

Benny is a smart boy. The lesson was bein' read to him about Joseph bein' sold by his brothers into bondage. Vhen it vas concluded the master asks, “Vat moral do ve draw from this?” Benny didn't need to think for a minute. “Steer clear of sheenies," says he, “ if you don't vant to get sold.” By my blessed gezundt, the boy's right.—Sporting Times.

Also used by thieves. Took the daisies to a sheney, and done them for thirty blow.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

In America a pawnbroker is sometimes called a sheeney.

Shell out, to (common), to pay, dis

burse ; a metaphor, the pocket being likened to a pea pod, or literally out with one's shells or money, possibly alluding to the cowries or shells used in Southern Asia, on the coast of Guinea, and in the Philippine Islands. Will you be kind enough, sir, to shell out for the price of a daacent horse?–Miss Edgeworth : Love and Law.

Come, fork out, old Flint! . . shell out, old fellow !-Waters : Recollections of a Detective.

Also used in America. It may be imagined I had to shell out pretty freely. In all I reckon it cost me more than 25 dollars.-O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail.

Sheepskin fiddle (theatrical), the

big drum. Also used by soldiers. Sheepskin fiddlers (army), drum

mers.

Sheep wash, to (Winchester Col.

lege), to throw a man into the water.

Sheffield handicaps, well-known

sprint races in which there is no scratch man, the real scratch man receiving an enormous start

Shells, brown (popular), onions.

In these ways may the enormous demand for brown shells and “big 'uns” be to some extent accounted for ; but as one contemplates men, women, and children

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busy among the heaps as ants on an anthill, and bearing off, with satisfaction beaming in their faces, onions enough to garnish steak or tripe through all the days in the year.-J. Greenwood : In Strange Company. Shelving (printers), a man in

writing his weekly bill is said to have shelved it if he does not fully charge up the work done by him-in contradistinction to " horsing," or charging in ad

vance of work done. Shenanigan (American), humbug,

deceit.

Jim took his bill, two days' board, $2.62, and eyeing the puzzled landlord as though he suspected some shenanigan, he broke out: “I want to see them ar books!”New York Mercury.

Bartlett says, “Foolery or nonsense when advanced to cover some scheme.” This indicates, accurately, the beginning or commencing of something disgraceful. In Dutch this would be expressed by schen-aangaan, to begin anything disreputable. Schen is the root of both. Schenden and schende, violence and shame. This is only offered as a merely possible

derivation of the word. Shepherd, to (English and Aus

tralian popular), to watch, to play the spy on, to guard, to pay court to. The metaphor is obviously taken from shepherding sheep. Adversaries opposite each other at football are said to shepherd or watch each other. A man may shepherd a rich uncle or rich heiress, a detective shepherds a criminal whom he

suspects of planning a felony. A man shepherds one of his own side at football by keeping off adversaries while he is running

or kicking. Sherbet (popular), a glass of any

warm alcoholic liquor, as grog,

&c. A misapplication. Sherry-fug, to (Universities), to

spend the afternoon indoors

drinking sherry. Shice, shicey, shicer (popular

and theatrical), nothing, no good. Vide SHICER. (Thieves), counterfeit, specially counter

feit coin. Shicer, shyster, the lowest and

vilest kind of a man. The term is supposed to have been first used in England among the lowest order of Jews. It is said to be derived from the German scheisser (Lat. cacator), but may be influenced by the Yiddish sheiker, a lie, falsehood, or liar (Heb. shakar). “ Sheiker we kisun,” lies and falsehood. In New York the word shyster is specially applied to the lowest type of criminal lawyer — "a Tombs lawyer.” (Diggings), a hole

that yields nothing. Shicksas (London), a certain class

of the demi-monde. From the Jewish slang shicksel, a girl.

Shickster. Vide SHAKESTER.

Shikster crabs, ladies' shoes or boots.

Shig (Winchester), a shilling.

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Shiggers (Winchester), white

football trousers costing ios. Shikar (Anglo-Indian), shooting and hunting game. Sport and game.

Shikerry (popular), shabby, bad,

shaky, doubtful. Used in Australia. From provincial English shickle, fickle, doubtful.

But as the hedge-crocus is shickerry togged, he makes poorly out. - Mayhew : London Labour and the London Poor. Shillagalee (American), a low,

tricky, sinister fellow. New York Dutch, scheeloog, one that is squint-eyed, associated with scheelen, to want, ail. Possibly

Irish. Shilling shocker (common), ex

plained by quotation.

The shilling shocker is too much given to a beggarly setting forth of its title in plain, fat, black letters, on simple white paper. Even when it aspires to a picture cover, the illustration is generally done in black and white, which unwisely ignores the noble and still unslaked thirst for blood which consumes the consumers of those Belshazzar's feasts of the imagination.Globe.

Shine-nag (costers), a token of

bankruptcy, or being "cracked up.” “You'll ruin the shine

nag if you go on like that.” Shiner (popular), a sovereign;

shiners, gold coins, money. 'Twas Isobar—this goodly tip

And Epsomwards I hurried,
Expecting to recoup my trip

When safely home he'd scurried,
But when, at length, 'twas plain to see

That I had lost each shiner,
My jubilation struck a key
Comparatively minor.

- Sporting Times. To let a lord of land want shiners, 'tis a shame.-Foote: The Minor.

(Tailors), a shiner, a boastful fellow. Shines. Vide CUT UP SHINES. Shine, to (tailors), to boast.

(Popular), to take a shine, to be partial to a person or thing, to

take a fancy. Shiney (popular), gold.

We'll soon fill both pockets with the shiney in California.-Reade : Never too Late to Mend. Shingle (American), hanging out

a shingle, é, e., to put up one's sign or name over a shop or office. Of Western origin, shingles having been used there

for the purpose named. Shingle short, having a (Aus

tralian), equivalent to “having a tile loose,” i.e., being slightly

crazy or idiotic. Shingle tramper (nautical), a

coastguard. Shinning around (American), ex

plained by quotation.

Shindy. Most probably from the gypsy chindi, literally a cut, or cutting up, which is again confused with chinger, which has the same meaning and also signifies a quarrel. Shines, as applied to noisy deeds, mis. chief, rioting, &c., may be from the same root, a conjecture which is supported by the fact that it is always associated with cut, e.g., “He is cutting up shines.”

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“Fossicking about” is now used as a general term for what the Americans call shinning around, or what we should qualify as “ferreting about.”—Illustrated London News.

To shin means also to walk. Shinny on your own side ! (pro

vincial and American). Shinney is the game termed hockey in England, and the exclamation is a suggestion to a person to attend to his own personal interest in anything. Shinney is

provincial English for hockey. Shin out, to (popular), to pay

up money. Probably from the phrase, “to break one's shins,”

to borrow money from him. Shin-plaster (American), a term

applied ever since the revolutionary war (1776) to depreciated currency.

The House Committee on Banking and Currency will to-morrow make a favourable report to the House upon the bill providing for the issue of $25,000,000 in fractional currency. The demand for these small notes for transmission through the mails has increased within the past year, and numerous petitions asking for a return to the convenient shin-plaster have been received during the present Congress.New York World.

Also used in England for a cheque or bank-note. Mr. — gave — a cheque for a monkey . . he was flourishing the shin-plaster in question at Sandown.--Sporting Times.

Bartlett tells the familiar tale as to the origin of the word, that after the old continental currency had become almost worthless, an old soldier used a quantity of it to make plasters for a wooden leg. It is, how

ever, worth noting that the German and Dutch words schein or schyn, approach very nearly to scheen, shin, in the latter, and that they mean paper currency. A German proverb speaks of money as a plaster for every ill, and the peasants call a great price “a hot plaster.” There is reason to believe that the phrase a shin-plaster will be found to be a translation from the German. The term is sometimes applied to “fractional currency," or notes of small value. Again it may be derived from the slang phrase “to break shins,” to borrow money. The term shin-plaster is used in England. Sheen (which see), Scotch for bad money, is much older than the American Re

volutionary War. Shins (common), to break one's

shins, to borrow money from one. A corresponding French phrase is, “Donner un coup de pied dans

les jambes.” Shin-scraper (prison), explained

by quotation.

The treadmill shin-scraper (arising, it may be assumed, on account of the operator's liability, if he is not careful, to get his shins scraped by the ever-revolving wheel).-J. Greenwood: Seven Curses of London, Shin up a tree, to (common), to

climb up a tree. Ship (printers), abbreviation for

“companionship”-a body of compositors that work together and share alike all round, as regards the rate of pay per

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hour, a clicker being appointed
to take charge and write the

general bill. Shipped (American University),

expelled. Ship, to (Shrewsbury school), to

be unsuccessful in repeating

lessons. Shirking (Eton), explained by

quotation. Shirking was a marvellous invention. Fellows were allowed to boat on the river, but all the approaches to it were out of bounds; we might walk on the terrace of Windsor Castle, but it was unlawful to be caught in the streets of Windsor which led to the terrace. . . . If, happening to be out of bounds, you saw a master approaching, you had to shirk, which was done by merely stepping into a shop. The master might see you, but he was supposed not to see you ; the shirking was accepted as tantamount to a recognition that you knew you were breaking rules, and this was enough to disarm magisterial resentment, The absurdity of this system was, that to buy anything in the shops in High Street, where all the school tradesmen dwelt, we were obliged to go out of bounds.-Brinsley Richards : Seven Years at Eton.

Skeat derives the English word shirk from shark ; but shirk, a slinking rascal, has a direct affinity with the German schürke both in sound and

meaning. Shirt (turf), “ to put one's shirt on

a horse,” to lose all one's money on a horse. The French say of a man in extremes, “il a vendu jusqu'à sa chemise." “Now the word shirt,” said the peda. gogue, “is a common noun, and means an undergarment for men.”

“And for horses, sir,” put in a sharp youngster.

“For horses? What do you mean?”

“Father says he is going to put his on Friar's Balsam for the Derby, sir!”

There was trouble in that class.—Bird o' Freedom

(Common), to lose one's shirt, to lose one's temper. Also “to

lose one's hair." Shirt out, to have one's (used in

England, but more in Australia), to be angry. Probably this expression has arisen from the shirt working out between the breeches and waistcoat during a struggle. To have one's shirt out, therefore, denotes excitement and thus anger. Another possible derivation is from the provincial shurty, to bustle

about. Shirty (common), angry. Used

more in Australia and America. Shivereen, a (Canadian), ex

plained by quotation; a word imitated from the French charivari.

The second night of my stay in Chehailis we had a wedding celebrated according to local custom by a shivareen, which is a performance of the following description : When the fond bridegroom and his blushing bride have supped and gone to roost, their friends and well-wishers, mostly males, arrive from the neighbouring ranches, bringing with them guns, rifles, drums, horse-fiddles, and other musical instruments. With these they commence a lively serenade, firing volleys, and working the horse-fiddle, a big wooden box, with a very active stick inside, until the unhappy pair turn out and drink the healths of their untimely visitors. Should the husband turn rusty, his callers may possibly pull his roof off, pour water down his chimneys, or forcibly extract him in statu quo from his nuptial couch.-Phil. lipps-Wolley: Trottings of a Tenderfoot.

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Shoe-goose (Anglo-Indian), a

term which shows how many Anglo-Indian words are manufactured. It is applied to the lynx, and is a corruption of the Persian siyah-gosh, literally “flock ear."

Shoe-leather (thieves), a thief's

warning cry when be hears any one coming. French thieves, in a like circumstance, will say,

“chou! chou!” or “ acresto.” Shoe-string (American). When

a man bets a small sum and runs it up to a large amount, it

is called a shoe-string. Shoes, another pair of (popular),

quite different. We'll show 'em another pair of shoes than that, Pip, won't us?--Dickens: Great Expectations.

· Said to be a corruption of the French chose ; but that is improbable, as the French have a corresponding and kindred phrase, “c'est une autre paire de manches." Shoe, to (popular), a variation of

making one “pay his footing.”

curious to find the word once used by the King of Israel still living in the vocabulary of a London costermonger. Compare showful, showy” (SmythePalmer). (Popular), a hansom cab, i.e., in the shape of a shovel, the original appellation. It is said, however, that they were at first despitefully called shofuls, i.e., bad ones. Schoful appears in Dutch slang as sjofel, bad. The word is common all over Germany, Belgium, and

Holland. Shoful-pitcher (thieves), a passer

of base coin. Vide SHOFUL. Shoful-pitching. Vide SHOFUL

PITCHER. Shoful - pullet (popular), a gay

girl. Vide SHOFUL. Shoke (Anglo-Indian), a hobby,

a whim, a favourite pursuit.

Arabic shank. Shoon (thieves), a fool, a lout.

Probably from the Hebrew.

Vide SHEENEY.
Shoot (American), a slang phrase

equivalent to "bother that!”
“stop it !” “keep that out!”
Once in a while a man may take
A little holiday;
Don't talk to me about the shop!
Oh shoot the shop, I say!

-Song Miss Mabel Brown has jilted me, and that

is nothing new of her; Oh shoot Miss Mabel Brown, I say ! Miss Wilkins is worth two of her.

-Western News. Shoot is a Lancashire term, to get rid of, reject, eliminate.

Shoful (costermongers and

thieves), counterfeit, base coin, sham jewellery. A shoful, an impostor. “ This cant term ori. ginated among the Jews, and is the Hebrew shâfâl (or shåphal), low. base. vile the word which David applied to himself when he danced before the ark (2 Sam. vi. 22). Mayhew quotes showfuls, bad money, as a piece of costermongers' slang. It is

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I'll gie ya fifteen shillin apiece for those hundred cows, and ya'll let me shoot ten on 'em.-Peacock : Lonsdale Glossary.

The parallel phrase, to get shut of, is still used in Ireland and provincial English. In the Cleveland dialect, to get shot of. (Popular), a lot collected for sale. Mr. — had a big show of useful harness and hack horses, and as they were all sound and good-looking in appearance, it is needless to state that the Midland dealer got rid of nearly the whole shoot, at prices ranging from a “score" to fifty guineas. - Sporting Life. Shooter (old), the guard of a

mail coach, from his being armed with a blunderbuss. He had a word for the hostler about that grey mare, a nod for the shooter or guard.— Thackeray: Shabby-Genteel Story.

(Printers), short for shootingstick, an implement used for tightening up the quoins of a

forme. Shooting-irons (American), fire

arms.

The jurors-good, grandfatherly mentook a different view of the matter, and did not seem to think that it was any harm for an injured female to go about the streets with shooting-irons, ready to deal, probably, promiscuous destruction around her. - Daily Telegraph. Shooting on the post (sport), to

catch your opponents and win

just before the tape. Shoot off your mouth (American),

to talk much, or talk in a boast. ing manner.

If he could kill Indians shooting off his mouth at them he'd soon clean them out all there is.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin

Shoot one's linen, to (common),

to jerk one's sleeves in order to

show the shirt wristbands. And as for the garment I wear next my

skin, To be “shirty" with that after years

would be sin, I could once shoot my linen so spotlessly

white, But now I am thinking 'twere best out of sight.

-Song: Gone to Smash. Shoot one's star, to (popular),

to die. Shoot, the (London Railway). Walworth Road Station, on the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, is called, par excellence, the Shoot, because of the large number of passengers who alight there, thus relieving the enormously congested traffic from the city stations. This is especially noticeable at certain times of the evening when those engaged in the city are return

ing from business. Shoot the cat, to (common), to

vomit. (Army), the bugle-call (in infantry) for defaulters' drill, so called from the onomatopoetic sound of the call which it is fancied follows the words “shoot the cat-shoot the cat." Nearly all bugle-calls have their synonymous words, as the dinner call, which runs “ officers' wives have puddings and pies. Soldiers' wives have skill-ee!” and the second watch setting, or tattoo roll-call, which begins"Wiggins, Wiggins, Private Wiggins, come home to barracks,” and so on to the end of a long tune.

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(Turf), to be shot is to make a disadvantageous bet which is instantly accepted.

Then a plucky fielder, who does not perform in London every day, offered “nine monkeys,” and was instantly shot by the very dealer who had backed.Bird o' Freedoni.

Shoot the crow (American), ex

plained by quotation.

An ancient sinner was recently charged with shooting the crow, i.e., obtaining alcoholic stimulant at public-houses, and making an artful retreat without paying for the cool, refreshing moisture. His method was charmingly simple. After strolling into a coffee-room, he would order a six of whisky. On the liquor being brought, he usually remarked, “The water in the bottles looks rather cloudy, waiter. Just fetch some fresh, if you please.” Then, while the gentle garçon retired, the A. S. invariably drank the spirit with rapidity, and made tracks as specdily as possible. Fifteen days' “hard."-Fun.

From an allusion to crow-whisky, or the best kind.

(Popular), to be shot, to be photographed.

Shoot the moon, to (common), to

leave a house or lodgings by
night, and generally removing
the furniture without paying
the landlord.
My uncle's got the broker's man,

My cousin's got a month ;
My brother's joined a regiment,

The hard-up ninety-oneth.
My aunt she's gone to Colney Hatch,

To spend the afternoon,
And all our blessed family

To-night will shoot the moon.
-We are a Merry Family (Francis

and Day). Synonyms“move in the blind," “go between the moon and the milkman,” &c. In French, “déménager à la cloche de bois.” Vide Moon.

Shop (general), a house, place,

establishment, and club. The French use the word boutique as a disparaging term for any illmanaged house orestablishment. “All over the shop” implies a general disturbance, confusion, or commotion of any kind ; to talk shop, explained by quotation.

There was another symptom of a parallel feeling in the widespread censure involved in the common reproach that a man talks shop. What was talking shop? It meant talking of the interests of the work which they did, or the profession to which they belonged. But injustice lay in the word, and a snare in the thought. Too often it meant the exclusion from lively conversation and pleasant discussion of that which formed the dearest intellectual interest of a man's life.- Daily News.

A lay guest at a clerical dinner, hoping toingratiate himself with his neighbour, a well-known London parson, and beginning some rather unctuous talk, was met with the rebuke, “Sir, when I dine with Jack Ketch, I don't talk about hanging.” (Army), the guard-room. The Royal Military Academy is termed the shop. (Turf), to get a shop, to secure first, second, or third place in a race.

Shoot, to (Stock Exchange).

“ To make a man a close price
in a stock without knowing if
there would be a profit or loss
on the bargain” (Atkin, "House
Scraps").
VOL. II.

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“My boy,” said an eminent bishop to his eldest son, “truth will always triumph in the long run; for this reason let your guiding principle in life be Veracity.” “I don't think your tip will quite win, pa," said the boy; “but I shall certainly back it for a shop.”—Referee.

(Theatrical), explained by quotation.

Sometimes one may meet in the Strand an actor who has been out of a shop-all engagements being called shops, as well as the play-houses-a long time, who having run through, or run in to Attenborough, his ordinary wardrobe, will be wearing his "props” to keep up an appearance.Globe.

Shop, to (army), to put under

arrest in the guard-room.

If we enter the army, joining the light infantry, we will become a “light bob,” and our first contravention of military law will ensure our being shopped.-Morning Advertiser.

(Royal Military Academy), to put under arrest. (Pugilistic), to punish a man severely, knock him “all over the shop.” (Trade), to discharge a shopman. (Thieves), to send to prison.

She looks up in his face. “Jim," says she timidly, and cowering close to him the while, “if you was took and shopped, like him in the long boots, I'd go to quod with you, if they'd give me leave-I'd go to death with you.” – Whyte-Melville: M or N.

Shop-bouncer (popular), generally

a well-attired thief, who appropriates articles while being served with other articles of

less value. Shopkeeper (trading), an article

which remains long in hand in a shop is always known as an

old shopkeeper. Shop-lift (old), a thief who robs at

shops. The tenth is a shop-lift, that carries a bob When he ranges the city, the shops for to

rob. -Pedlar's Pack of Ballads and Songs,

collected by W. H. Logan. Shopper (trade), one much ad

dicted to "shopping."

The plan is to distinguish between the twoclasses of shoppers.—Daily Telegraph. Shoppy (common), to be shoppy,

to talk of nothing but about one's calling or profession, or on sporting subjects. When golfers get together their talk is more unutterably shoppy than even that of hunters, cricketers, or racing men.Daily Telegraph.

Shop-walker (trade), a kind of

foreman who walks about the

shop. Short (common), without money.

Barber—"Pretty short, sir ?" Customer_" Well, yes, I am. Just put it down on the slate, will you ? Much obliged to you for speaking of it."--Lowell Citizen.

(Costermongers), neat gin. Originally unsweetened or shortened gin, then short gin, then any neat spirit. “Let's

have something short.” Old men will swathe their gouty limbs,

And talk of sound old port; Converted thieves will sing loud hymns, Then take their drops of short.

-Fun Almanac. (Banks), upon presenting a cheque, the clerk asks, “How will you take it?” i.e., in gold or notes. If in notes, “long or short?” Should it be desired to receive it in notes for the

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got satisfaction by preventing the re. election of any of them. The silk stockings, as they are freely called, made an attempt in the committee meeting when the election of members at large took place to crowd out the Cook County short-hairs altogether by a motion that only four members at large be elected. — Chicago Tribune.

The short-hairs appear to be discontented with the administration, while the silk stockings approve of it.

largest possible amount the answer is, short (Hotten).

(Tailors), he bit him off short, he abruptly closed the interview or instantly dismissed his

appeal. Shortage (American), a deficit in

accounts. “Let's see,” he mused. “You are in some bank down town, aren't you ?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And don't all these robberies, embezzlements, and shortages, make the directors a little nervous."

“Well, perhaps."

“Any talk of giving the cashier a vacation so as to slyly examine his books?”

“Not that I have heard of.”

“ Then you must have confidence in him?”

"I-I think so. That is, I presume so. That is I'm the cashier myself."Wall Street News. Short ear (American University),

a rowdy. Shorter (thieves), a rogue who

clips and files coin. From a crown-piece a shorter could gain 5d. Chemical means are also resorted to.

Short of a sheet, to be, the Aus

tralian equivalent of a tile loose, crazy.

Shorts, the (Stock Exchange),

said of brokers who are minus stocks which they have contracted to deliver.

Short-hairs, silk stockings

(American), the names of two branches of the Democratic party in the Western States. They appear to have been first used, or at least to have first come before the public, at the Democratic State Convention, held in Springfield, Illinois, August 26, 1886.

They did not resign, as had been hoped by the short-hairs, but desired to retain control of the fall campaign, and until December, when their terms expire. This was a disappointment, but their opponents

Shot (popular), reckoning. From

Danish skat, Anglo-Saxon sceat.
Hence scot-free, Old French
(escot), écot.

There's three more of 'em, waiter-three more jolly blue boys, give it a name, my Britons; I'll pay the shot.-J. Greenwood: Dick Temple.

(Old cant), explained by quotation.

The “Charley” winked at the robberies committed by nocturnal footpads on drunken wayfarers, he black-mailed the unfortunate female night-prowlers, and especially did he lend aid and countenance to the resurrection-men or body-snatchers, who often found the watchman's box convenient as a temporary receptacle for the shot, or corpse, which they had just disinterred.—Daily Telegraph.

Shot in the locker (nautical), a metaphor signifying money in the pocket.

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Shot, shot in the neck (American),

drunk. German, “Er ist ges

chossen,” he is shot, i.e., drunk. Shot, to (horse-dealers), to shot a

horse, is to give him a quantity of small shot, the result being that for a short time he appears

sound in wind. Shoulder shams (old cant), con

federates of a pickpocket who

press round the victim. Shoulder, to (popular), when a ser

vant steals his employer's money

he is said to shoulder him. Shouting. Vide To SHOUT.

It is the custom in the colonies, or, at all events, in the parts I have visited, to “ stand” drinks most profusely at the village or township bars. They call it shouting:--Blackwood's Magazine. Give me the wealth I have squandered in

shouting, Scattered in sixpences, paid by the

pound, Ladled out glibly, no grudging or doubt

ever voluntarily drinks alone. He shouts his friend and his friend shouts him back, or each one of a company in turn shouts. If there is no one else to shout to, the customer generally invites the barman to take a drink: This custom is one of the curses of Australia. A publican knows that, however many there are in a party which enters his house, there will be the same number

of “shouts all round.” Shove (thieves), to pass bad money; “shoving the queer,” passing counterfeit coin. In all probability a combination of the gypsy chiv, with the English shove, as chiv comes much nearer to putting, or placing, or disposing of, than shove, i.e., to merely push. A shove of the mouth is a glass of gin. Shovel (nautical), an opprobrious

term applied to a marine engineer who knows little or

nothing about his work. Show (theatrical and common),

any performance or entertainment. In the quotation refer

ence is made to a cricket match. And have I “been bored or been weary" ?

Oh, gracious me, no!

There is plenty of go About these broad-chested and cheery . Young fellows come up for the show.

-Bird o' Freedom. "Many words of stage slang can be traced to Shakspeare's days and Shakspeare's plays. The word show, to begin with, meaning the performance and the play indifferently, is to be

ing,

Never a thought of the use to be found. -D. B. W. Sladen: The Sigh of the

Shouter. Shout, to (Australian), to treat, to

frank; shouter, one who treats. He had felt bound, according to custom, to shout for them all. I said, “But why do you give in to the practice ?” He replied, “It is not for the drink that we care, but for the expression of friendly feel. ing."-C. T.: Impressions of Australia (Blackwood's Magazine).

To shout, perhaps, gets this meaning as being equivalent to giving the order. I shout, therefore, I call out the order. The custom of shouting is universal in Australia. No one

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a show, he was altogether outmatched. Show-b ox (theatrical), the

theatre.

found in the tragedy of young Pyramus and his love Thisbe in the comedy of the Mid. summer Night's Dream':* The actors are at hand, and by their

show You shall know all that you are like to know.'"

-Globe. Used also in such phrases as boss the show, run the show, to direct, manage. We determined to run the show our. selves, or, in theatrical parlance, by “com monwealth."— Tit Bits.

Over goes the show, explained
by quotation.
It's all very well to say you won't

Take another of 'em on, but oh!
When a pretty little widow winks at you,
Why, over goes the show.

-Music Hall Song.
(American), a chance, an op-
portunity, a turn.

Flanigan hesitated for a second ; then he saw he had no show, and with an oath he let his rifle drop.-Century Illustrated Magazine. • It is often heard in the form, “give a fellow a show.” “My friends,"said a Baptist preacher, “if ever the devil has anything to say for himself, you ought to give him a show.” It has become one of the commonest of slang words in Australia. The expression probably comes from giving a person a chance of showing his cards, which, for example, he cannot do at écarté if his opponent shows the king, and only requires one point. Australians talk of giving a man a show, not having a blessed show, a mortal show. He hadn't

Showing a front (army), a term

used when short notice of a parade is given, and a soldier has to turn out without proper time to prepare himself by cleaning up his accoutrements and kit. Show Sunday, the Sunday in

Commemoration week at Oxford. On this day most of the University and their friends used to be seen in the Broad Walk of Christ Church, but of late years, owing to the influx of town's-people, very few of the University are seen there. (Studios), the Sunday before pictures are sent in for the Aca. demy Exhibition, when studios are visited by the artists'

friends. Shrieking sisterhood, the

(journalistic), an opprobrious term applied to women who take the lead in matters of reform connected with their sex.

This phrase is of American origin. Shroff (Anglo-Oriental), a money

changer, a money-broker or agent, a banker. Arabic sar. rāf. Shroffage, a money-broker's commission. To shroff is to assort money, pick out uncurrent coins and determine the agio or discount on them. Hence it has come in OrientalEnglish to mean sifting, choos

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Shucks, and stay fooling around here ! -Huckleberry Finn.

ing, or valuing men, horses, or anything whatever.

“Shroffing schools are common in Canton, where teachers of the art keep bad dollars for the purpose of exercising their pupils, and several works on the subject have been published there with numerous illustrations of dollars and other foreign coins, the methods of scooping out silver and filling up with copper or lead, comparisons between genuine and counterfeit money, &c.” (Giles' Glossary of References, AngloIndian Glossary.)

Shulwaurs (Anglo-Indian),

trousers or drawers. Shunter (Stock Exchange), ex

plained by quotation. One who buys or sells stocks on the chance of undoing his business, on one of the provincial Stock Exchanges, at a profit.-Atkin: House Scraps.

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Shunt, to (popular) to move, turn

aside. From the railway term. To shunt any one, to get rid of him.

He started in life as a welsher. Not a respectable welsher, one who snatches your brief when you present it for payment, or punches you in the jaw and tells you to shunt.--Sporting Times.

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Shut of. Vide SHOOT.

Shucks (Aunerican), “don't

amount to shucks," it is less than nothing. Shucks! an exclamation signifying nonsense! or expressive of refusal. In America shucks are the husks or shells of nuts and Indian corn. It is an old provincial word for shell or husk. The pods of peas are still called pea-shucks, and being worthless have given rise to the slang phrase. The Confederate “blue-backs” or bank notes were also called shucks, probably for a twofold reason, because they soon became worthless through the failure of the Southern cause and from the circumstance of money being sometimes designated as dust, pelf, filthy lucre, &c.

Shut up! a vulgar but very com

mon phrase used as a forcible request to another to keep silent or quiet. French slang has the expression “ferme ta boîte.” The Greeks said, “Keep an ox on your tongue.” Shut up, also exhausted, done for ; “that shut him up," that entirely stopped his speech or

action. Shut in our face (American), be

silent. Also, “cork up your

whisky-bottle.” Shy of the blues (thieves), ex

plained by quotation.

I happened to know that in criminal circles to describe a person as being shy of the blues, is equivalent to saying that he has particular reasons for keeping out of the way of the police.-). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

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result of hazardous and reckless speculation.

Shyster (American), a louting,

swindling attorney, or a low fellow who pretends to be an attorney—though possibly he had here no connection with the law except to sweep out an attorney's office, or run an errand, or who hangs about police offices, or courts of justice, to cheat prisoners or suitors on pretence of sending them legal assistance. Derivation uncertain, but probably from the German scheisser (cacator), allied to scheuen, to avoid, to be in fear of, and scheusslich, abominable. When a man is thrown into prison a shyster leech gets access to him, and extorts from him his last cent under the pretence of obtaining his liberation.- New York Tribune.

Shysters are a set of turkey-buzzards whose touch is pollution and whose breath is pestilence.- New York in Slices.

There is more deep-hued and earnest ingenuity in three hairs of the Counsellor's Londonderry beard than in the Pompadour mop-heads of all the dude shysters of the day. The Counsellor knows a dollar when he sees it, and no dollar ever coined had intelligence enough to get out of the way of that astute practitioner.-San Francisco News-Letter.

Side (common), a man is said to

put side on when he gives himself airs, swaggers, or assumes unusual dignity. This expression is noy much in vogue in England and America. It seems at first sight to be a metaphor either taken from the habit of dogs when they are given things to carry, when they invariably put their side out in a curve, like a horse when buckjumping, or from a billiard term meaning making a ball revolve on a perpendicular axis by striking it on the side, or again from a ship that shows its side when sailing fast with a side wind ; but in reality side is old provincial English. Bailey gives it as a north-country term, meaning long, steep, proud. The young men of the present day, who think it is the right thing to put on a lot of side.-Saturday Review.

(Cambridge University.) At the larger colleges there are several college - tutors amongst whom the students are apportioned. Those attached to each are called his side.

A longer discourse he will perhaps have to listen to with the rest of his side.Westminster Review.

Side degrees are test degrees by lecturers. (Thieves), used in the cant language of the Northern towns as an affirmative. Probably abbreviated from the phrase, “I side with you."

Sick (Australian popular), without

trumps. In playing a nap, if the player's trumps are exhausted, he will say sick, and if he have a hand full of trumps, and challenges the board, to see if any one has any left, he will ask “ All sick ?”

Sick market (Stock Exchange), a

sick market is one in which sales of stock are difficult to place. As a rule this is usually the

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Side-board, stick-up (common), a

collar. Side-pocket (American thieves),

a drinking saloon in an out-ofthe-way place. A quiet resort for out-of-the-way people, fancy

women, private gamblers. Side-show (American). Where

there is a large exhibition, as, for instance, a “mammoth circus,” or Barnum's “Great Menagerie,” there are generally established about and near it a number of trumpery little cheap exhibitions of fat men, tattooed young women, the human fish or dancing dogs, generally charging a dime or fivepence admission. These are called side-shows, but the term is extended in popular slang to signify anything not in the expected order of things.

The supper at the party was good, but on temperance principles, and I was beginning to feel doleful after my fried oysters, and terrapin, and chicken-salad, and soft-shell crabs, when Enos came up and whispered softly, “Now you've seen the Great Moral Circus, suppose you step into the side-show." The side-show was in the back dining-room, where he had a bottle of fine old brandy.-Philadelphia Newspaper. Side - wheeler (American), a

paddle-steamer. Sight, to take a (American), to

take aim. Another Indian had turned and was getting a bee line on us when Frank took a sight at him in return. – O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail. Sil (thieves), a spurious bank.

note, especially one drawn on

the Bank of Elegance or Bank of Engraving, to avoid the consequences of a more accurate imitation of the genuine note. Much used by welshers and confidence - trick men. In all probability sił was originally a forged document used by a “silver beggar" (which see), and abbreviated from silver. Silencer (pugilistic), a crushing

blow. Sam planted such a silencer on his knowledge-box that Neal went down quite stupefied.--Pierce Egan: Book of Sports. Silk, to take (law), to be made a

Queen’s Counsel.
Sillikin (popular), a silly person.

I don't know where I came from,
And I don't know where I'm going,
They think I am a sillikin
But I am rather knowing.

-H. Wilson: The Blessed

Orphan. This term is used by Australian thieves. Silly season (journalistic), the

period when there are no parliamentary debates to report, or any interesting events. Newspapers to fill up their columns are then compelled to insert

“silly" matter. Silver beggar (beggars), a beggar

who travels through the country with letters containing false statements of losses by fire, shipwrecks, accidents. Forged documents are exhibited with signatures of magistrates and clergymen. Accompanying these are sham subscription-books.

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The former in beggar parlance is termed a “sham,” whilst the latter is denominated a “deli. cate.” Formerly a pickpocket was termed a silly cheat, cor

rupted from silver (siller) cheat. Silvers (Stock Exchange), Indiarubber, Gutta-Percha, and Tele

graph Works Company Shares. Sim, in clerical talk, a follower of

the late Rev. Charles Simeon, a well-known Cambridge evange

lical clergyman, died 1836. Simkin (Anglo-Indian). For

merly, when Anglo-Indian slang was more prevalent than nowa-days, champagne was called simkin, probably in imitation of the native way of pronouncing the word. The dinner was good, and the iced simkin, sir, delicious.- Oakfield.

(Theatrical), the fool in comic ballets.

caused the officers of the ship no little anxiety from day to day.-T. Stevens in the "Boston Herald.” Simply throwing up buckets

(Australian popular), very vexed or disappointed. When a person means to say that he is as disappointed as ever he can be, he sometimes says, “Oh! I am simply throwing up buckets,” this being of course a play upon the

Australian use of sick (q. v.). Simpson, water, as applied to its mixture with milk for adulteration. Mrs. Simpson, the parish pump.

These authorities know best the average quantity of Simpson-the technical term in dairydom for water-used by unscru. pulous cow-keepers to debase their milk. - Daily Telegraph. Sinbad (nautical), an old sailor;

the allusion is obvious.

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Sinch (American), a saddle-girth.

Spanish sincha. You can show him the way they corral a

train In an Indian raid on a pinch; You can show him the bravest son of the

plain,
That knotted a broncho's sinch.
-William Devere: The Great

Wild West. Sines (Winchester College), bread, which commoners generally went without (sine, with

out). Sing it, don't (popular), don't

exaggerate. Another variation of this is, “Don't chant the

poker.” Sinkers (popular), bad money.

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Sink, to tailors), to fall down

the sink, to take to drinking

and forsake work. Sipper (popular), gravy. Sir - ree! (American), generally

heard as “Yes-sir-ree !” A low expression which is said to have originated in this anecdote. A grim, taciturn individual came to a tavern, and was asked if he wanted something to eat? He replied, “No, sir!” “ Will you have anything to drink ?” “No-sir-ree !” “ Perhaps," suggested the complaisant land. lord, "the gentleman would like a lady companion ?" To which the reply, with a glad smile, was, “Yes-sir-ree—bob!” Sit. (printers), an abbreviation of

the word “situation.” For in

stance, “out of sit.” or “collar.” Sit under. In Evangelical and

Nonconformist circles, to sit under a preacher is to attend

his ministry. Sit-upons (common), trousers.

But I should advise you, old fellow,
to get your sit-upons seated with wash-
leather.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.
Sit up, to (familiar), to make any

one sit up is to punish him
severely at a game. At bil-
liards, for instance, when one
is making a break, he is said

to make his antagonist sit up. Sivey, sivvy, 'pon my (popular),

upon my honour. Corruption of "asseveration." 'Pon my sivey, if you was to see her pecking you'd think she was laying on

pounds’ weight in a day instead of losing. -J. Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co. Sixer (thieves), explained by quo.

tation.

“Neddie, from City Road, smugged for attempt up the Grove, expected a sixer," means that a misguided Edward has been apprehended while promenading outside Whiteley's, and investigating the contents of ladies' pockets, and is reconciling him. self to an absence from his oriental home for half a year.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Also a six-ounce loaf of bread given to prisoners. Six quarter or swop, to get

(city), to be dismissed from

one's employment. Six-shooter horse (West Ameri.

can), a swift horse. A sixshooter is a revolver or repeating rifle. I'd get on one of the six-shooter horses -a six-shooter horse is a heap better than a six-shooting gun in these cases.-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Six-water grog (nautical), very

weak grog. Size, to (American), to size a man

up means to understand him, to perceive or understand what he is, or to mentally take his size, which is a common American equivalent for his whole bodily and mental condition.

I'm a clerk at the Palmer House and sized you up the minute you spoke to me. If you show your face again in the house I'll see that you are kicked out of the door in the highest style of the art. Ta-ta lA Bunko-Steerer Taken In.

Also a West Indian expression. We landed at a quay of well-formed masonry, in the presence of a crowd of

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blacks who evidently took stock of us, sizing us, no doubt, with the design of engaging us in pecuniary transactions more or less connected with fruit.-W. A. Paton: Down the Islands.

(Cambridge University), to send for extra victuals in Hall; e.g., an undergraduate will size for a tankard of Buttery ale, instead of the small beer or “swipes” that is placed on the

table. Skedaddle (common), of Ameri

can origin, to run away, to be
scattered in rout.
He raises such a rumpus,

“He's a rum puss out and out,”
That the other cats skedaddle,
Quite dismayed they're put to rout.

-Detroit Free Press. “The Scotch apply the word to milk spilt over the pail in carrying it. During the late American war the New York papers said the Southern forces were skedaddled by the Federals. Saxon scedan, to pour out” (Dr. Brewer). In addition to this it may be suggested that sketdaddle in English provincial dialects means to go quickly but unsteadily. Sket, quickly, and daddle, to walk irregularly or unsteadily (Wright). Though this may not be the true origin of the word it corresponds to the definition of retreating rapidly yet in a confused irregular manner. Sket corresponds with skeet (which see), to go quickly or run. Dutch schieten; Anglo-Saxon scaótan. Schoolboys generally derive the word from Greek credavvuus, to put

to flight, or the substantive σκεδασμος. Skeet (American, New York and

Philadelphia), to dart, run along rapidly. “Now then, skeet !” From the Dutch schiet, schieten, to dart, cast, shoot, throw. Hence probably a skit, a flippant sarcasm, i.e., a shot. The word is sometimes confused in Philadelphia with skeet, the local

vulgar pronunciation of skate. Skeezicks, skeesicks (American).

Bartlett defines this as a mean, contemptible fellow. The writer has always understood it to rather mean a fidgety, fussy little fellow. Both may be right. In Cornwall, skeese means to frisk about. Skicer is “a lamb which kills itself by ex

cess of activity” (Wright). Sket (thieves), a skeleton key or

pick-lock. From provincial sket,

a latch, bolt, &c. Skew (Harrow), a dunce or

ignoramus. Probably from provincial skew, one-sided (for askew), awry, irregular, as skew-brained, odd, fanciful, idiotic; to skew is to fail in construing a lesson. (Old cant), a cup, porringer.

Probably old French escuelle. Skid, skiv (popular), a sovereign. Skids (American), volunteers,

militiamen. Swedish skyda, a guard, protector. Oh brighten up your uniforms ! Put sweet ile on your har! Go tell yore culled neighbours, Go tell it everywhar;

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The mugs and the jugs never joke, never gag, never work in a wheeze; no, their talk is all skilly and toke.-Punch.

Dis great organisation
De cream la cream, dey say,
March on for decoration,
De skids are out to-day !
When ! when! dandies !
Now ain't we hat-que-hay

Sweet goodness' sake!

We take de cake!
De skids are out to-day!

-Negro Minstrel Song. Skied (artists), said of a picture

which is hung on the upper line at the Exhibition of the Royal Academy. Had a similar course of conduct been pursued with respect to the disposition of pictures in the actual Salon, many loathsome daubs that disgrace the “line" there would have been sternly skied, or, still better, peremptorily rejected. — Daily Telegraph.

“The Three Graces,” now well placed, had been previously skied. But didn't this show that Sir Joshua's work ranked uncommonly high in the opinion of the former hangers.-Punch. Skill (football), when the ball is kicked between posts and thus procures a goal, it is termed a

skill. Skilly (common), water-gruel, in the workhouse and prisons.

So much the better for you, I say,

So much the better for you.
If you never act silly, you'll keep off the

skilly,
That's so much the better for you.

-Music Hall Song.
A Lincolnshire term, skilly,
oatmeal - gruel, from obsolete
English skelly, thin and light,
applied to thin, poor food ; also
sailor's soup of many ingre-

dients. Skilly and toke (popular), applied

to anything mild, insipid.

Skilts (American). “A sort of

brown tan trousers, formerly worn in New England, very large and reaching below the knee” (Bartlett). Probably from kilt, kelt, undyed cloth made

from black and white wool. Skimmer (public schools), a dive

into the water in a slanting direction without going down

deep. Skimmery (Oxford), St. Mary's

Hall. So I swopped the beggar to a skimmery. man for a regular slap-up set of pets of the ballet.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Skin (American cadet), a report ;

hefty skin, a rigorous report. (Popular and thieves), a purse. The term is much used by

strolling actors, showmen, &c. Skin a razor, to (common), to

drive a hard and close bargain. You be blowed, you young Jew sharper ! You'd skin a razor, that you would. I'll back you for drivin' bargens agen Joe his. self. Now, Mo, boy, fair dealin' with an old customer.–Savage London. Skin disease (popular), four ale,

i.e., ale at 4d. a quart.

Skin game (American), a swindle. Skinned (American and Austra

lian), to keep one's eye skinned, to be on the look-out, to have an eye to the main chance. Skinned, open. Cf. also, “to have one's weather eye open.”

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Kept his eye skinned, an eye that never missed a chance of gain. — New South Wales Paper. Skinner (turf). Vide SKIN THE

LAMB. Skinners, a variety of a class

of persons in confederacy who make a living by attending at sales. Vide KNOCK-OUT.

So they themselves modestly describe their avocation, should a stranger venture to make inquiry; but amongst themselves they are skinners, “knock-outs,” and “odd-trick men," and they work together in what the elegant language of their profession calls a "swim."-Greenwood: In Strange Company. Skin of the teeth, by the (com. mon), just or barely escaped. Of Biblical origin.

Just by the skin of its teeth the Manchester New Year's Meeting was brought to a satisfactory finish, but it was a desperately near thing.--Sporting Times. Skin the lamb (turf), when a non

favourite wins a race, bookmakers are said to skin the lamb, under the supposition that they win all their debts, no person having backed the winner. This has been corrupted into “skin

Also to borrow another's ideas and present them as one's own, to plagiarise, to become possessed of information in an examination or recitation by unfair or secret means. “In our examinations,” says a correspondent, “many of the fellows cover the palms of their hands with dates, and when called upon for a given date, they read it off directly from their hands.” Such persons skin. To skin a head, to read a lesson over just before going into class. (Common), to pull off a jersey, to pull off one's bed-clothes. More used at colleges and uni

versities. Skin your own skunks (Ameri

can). This highly expressive phrase is applied to any man when he is exhorted to do his own dirty or difficult work with. out involving another in it.

As a last proof of the absence of characteristic individuality in Mr. L's style, we take a sentence from a story of two Indians who were by the ears. “To which Marten replied that Moose might skin his own skunks, and fish for his own minnows, and also paddle his own canoe to the devil if it so pleased him"--all of these being approved Indian sayings of high and racy antiquity.-Review of the Algonquin Legends of New England, 1884. Skip a cog (American), to make a

mistake in planning machinery, metaphorically to commit any error by want of foresight.

A Virginia preacher who believes in prayer met a bear in the woods the other day, and instead of putting his remedy into effect he jumped from a bluff into Cheat River and swam half a mile. He had never tried prayers for bear, and was

ner.”

“Skinned the lamb through you, old chap,” yelled the Coke, grasping the lucky jockey's hand.--Sporting Times.

It was at the “colonel” that Mr. B-, in sporting parlance, skinned the lamb to the extent of some £1200.-Saturday Review.

Also a game at cards; a corruption of lansquenet.

Skin, to (Yale University), to

obtain a knowledge of a lesson by hearing it read by another.

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a little afraid they'd skip a cog somewhere.- American Newspaper.

.

This Skip out, to (American). means, like “light out,” to escape. It is probably only a variation of that word. To jump, to evade, to dodge. Both skip and jump occur in the foling extract. A woman who keeps a boarding-house on Larned Street called at police headquarters yesterday to complain that a gentleman boarder had skipped her house, leaving a bill unpaid. ... A man who'll jump a board bill and a marriage engage. ment, too, is an outlaw who should be locked up.-Detroit Free Press.

It is sometimes said when a man dies that he has skipped out. Skipper (old cant), a barn.

Now let each tripper
Make a retreat into the skipper.

--Broome : Jovial Crew. Hotten derives this from Welsh ysgubor, pronounced scybor or scibor, a barn. (Strolling performers, &c.), to skipper it, to sleep in the open air, or in a rough way. Skipper, properly master of a small vessel, is often used to designate a chief or manager, or captain of a

ship. Skipper-birds, keyhole-whistlers

(beggars), beggars who have their night's lodging in a barn

or outhouse. Vide SKIPPER. Skip the gutter, common phrase.

In old cant, a skip-kennel was a lackey or servant. Skip the gut. ter seems to be only an expression equivalent to “Houp la !” or “Over she goes ! ”

Skip the gutter, tra la la ! Tottie, do you

love me? Ting-ting, au revoir, girls there's none

above me. If you like me, tell me so-do not let me

linger; Tottie, if you love me, oh! squeeze my little finger !

-Music Hall Song. Skip, to (University), to shirk ;

not to attend a lecture, for

instance. Skirk out, to (Winchester Col

lege), to go up town without

leave. Skirk, to (Winchester College),

to go into the water without

jumping in. Skitting dealers (old cant), in George II.'s time beggars who

professed to be tongueless. Skittles! (popular), nonsense !

“Stop, sir !” shouted the jeweller; " it's four shillings altogether.”

"Skittles !” observed the customer. Bird • Freedom. Skulduggery (American),

rascality, treachery. A Western word. From Low Dutch slang (thieves), schooldogerey, schoel,

a villain. Skull (American), the head man

anywhere. The allusion to skull as the brain-case. The President of the United States, or a

governor. Skungle (American), a word

which “had a run” at the end of the civil war. It meant many things, but chiefly to disappear, or to make disappear. Thus a deserter skungled, and

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sometimes he skungled a coat or
watch.
Dey shtripped off his coat, and skungled
his boots.

-The Breitmann Ballads. Skunk, used by all English-speak

ing people, but originally American. Properly an animal nearly allied to the weasel on the one hand and to the otter on the other, which secretes an extremely fetid liquor as a means of defence. Figuratively a paltry, mean wretch, a contemptible creature. Mr. — (jumping to his feet and speak. ing very excitedly), “I'd knock your two eyes into one. You're a big fellow, and just come over here.” Mr.

“Go along." Mr. — (loudly), “Come over. here, you common blackguard ; you low skunk.” Mr. — “Go along out of that." Mr. — (very excitedly), “You dirty low mean skut. I'd ram my fist through you." (Laughter). Mr. -, “Go to the coal pits, where you were in England.”—Evening News.

He was one of those down-lookin skunks I was a-speaking of, and a more endless villain, p'r'aps, there ain't between the blessed poles than he was.-Sam Slick Sky (thieves and popular), a

pocket. Abbreviation of "sky

rocket,” which see.
How little of fun do they have in the main
At the same old haunts again and again;
When the Oof Bird's scarce and the land.

lady's fly,
And there isn't a mash with a mag in his
sky.

-Sporting Times. (Westminster School), a black guard. Said to be from the old gown and town rows in which the Westminsters styled themselves Romans, and their antagonists volsci—hence sky.

Sky-blue, formerly gin, or Lon.

don milk.
Oh! for that small, small beer anew,
And (heaven's own type) that mild sky-

blue
That wash'd my sweet meals down.

-Hood: Retrospective Review. Sky farmers (old cant), rogues

who go about the country with

a false pass extorting money. Sky-larker (old cant), a journey. man bricklayer that belongs to

a gang of housebreakers. Sky-rocket (thieves), rhyming

slang for pocket. A slavey piped the spoons sticking out of my sky-rocket, so I got smugged. Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Sky-scraper (common), a tall man.

In nautical language, a triangu. lar sail set above the sky-sail. Skyser, skycer (thieves), a low, mean, sponging fellow. Vide

SHICER and SHYSTER.
Skyte (Shrewsbury School), ex-

plained by quotation.
At one time there used to be a strong
feeling against the day boys, who live or
lodge in the town; and the designation of
skytes was formerly applied to them.-
Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public
Schools,

Also used by Scottish schoolboys with the meaning of fool.

They vituperated the dominies as “auld shoon," "coofs," “blasties," “ blethering bellums," "blunties," "chuffies," "gowks,” "grunzies," "maggot's meat,” skyles, and “staumris.”—Daily Telegraph.

Possibly from Ekvońs, a Scythian, but more probably from provincial English skite (literally

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cacator), skite, and skitter, merdis aspergere (Halliwell). (Popular), a fool. Also “kite."

Sky, to (popular), or sky a brown,

to toss up with pence. (Cricket, lawn-tennis, &c.), to sky a ball,

to hit a ball up in the air. · Sugg, with his score at twelve, skied a delivery from the Oxonian. ---Sportsman.

Vide SKIED.

Slam, to (popular), to talk

fluently—“he is the bloke to slam.” From a term in use among low singers at the East End, by which they denote a certain style of note in chaffinches (Hotten). (Army), to simulate drunkenness. The swaggering soldier whose funds are at a low ebb, and who cannot buy drink, often returns with the symptoms of intoxica · tion, assumed, and a maudlin story of the friends he found who liberally stood treat till he was made thus glorious.

Slab-sided (American), straight,

without contour or curve. Generally applied to persons of a prim, stiff, “up and down" figure.

Jack Downing says that Maine is the middle and kernel of real Yankeeism, Rhode Island and Connecticut point to each other as the focus of the article ; while the Massachusetts man will tell you that the real slab-sided whittler is indigenous to Varmount and New Hampshire. -New Sloper Sketches, by C. G. Leland (Knickerbocker Magazine, March 1856).

Slaney (thieves), a theatre. Probably a variation from “slang," which see.

Slack (nautical), to hold on the

slack, to skulk, as if holding a slack rope.

Slacks (popular), fatigue trousers

drawn over others to keep them clean. Sailors of all nationalities, and almost every shade of colour between white and black, some smart and attired in their best clothes, others as though but just released from ship duty, unwashed and in their working slacks and guernseys.-James Greenwood: Odd People in Odd Places. Slack ’un (pugilistic), a smashing

hit, on the lucus a non lucendo principle, i.e., a blow à la Slack. Jack Slack (champion from 1750 to 1760) was renowned for the force of his hits.

Slang (showmen, circus, &c.), a

performance, a travelling show of any kind. The slangs, however, is the more usual expression, meaning any collection of such shows, or generally the showman's profession. Also a gymnast's performance; a performance at penny “gaffs," i.e., low theatres or music balls. A first slang, second slang, are respectively first and second performances given the same evening. (Thieves), this or that particular kind of thieving. The word is old. “How do you work now?” “Oh, upon the old slang, and sometimes a little bullyprigging.”-Parker: Variegated Characters.

A watch chain. Fullied for a clock and slang.–Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

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(Prison), the slang. Leg-irons worn by convicts as a special punishment inflicted by the superior authority of one of the Board of Directors, and for one of two offences, an assault upon a prison officer or an attempt to escape. The irons consist of a chain weighing from 7 to 8 lbs., attached to ankle basils, which are rivetted on to the leg; the chain is some three feet in length, and is carried between the legs, being suspended from a leather waistbelt. The noise the chain makes in walking is evidently the origin of the expression slangs. These irons may be carried, according to sentence, from three to six months. They are worn with a parti-coloured dress, alternate stripes of yel. low and drab for an escape, of yellow and black for an assault, and the dress is continued for a longer period after the chain is removed. These chains are never taken off day or night, when once rivetted. (Costermongers), counterfeit weights and measures. A slang quart is a pint and a half.

The term slang, as connected with any kind of theatrical performance or show, is of gypsy origin. The gypsies modified the Hindu swangia (w easily passes to l, e.g., very, London swells, vewy; children, velly) into the English slung. One thing is certain, it has always been regarded as a gypsy word and used as one of them. It may be remarked that while many of the words such as “multee kerteever," "fake,” &c., are to be found in common slang, they are used “on the slangs," or among showmen, with special application, and a large proportion of them actually originated in shows whence they passed to common slang. The word, in the sense of language or lingo, has been hitherto used to mean “argot,” “vulgar language,” "abuse.” It is clear that in the sense of argot it is gypsy, the slang language originally meaning the language of the slangs, or shows, just as “langage de l'argot” meant the language of the brotherhood termed “argot,” being afterwards shortened into argot and generalised. But slang, as "abuse" or “ vulgar language,” is of an Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian source, and while there appears to be every reason to believe that the word slang, as tradition asserts, is of gypsy origin, there is also ground to believe that it has drawn something from another source. “Slang or vulgar language,” according

There are not half so many slangs as there was eighteen months ago.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Out on the slang, going about with a hawker's license. Of gypsy origin. Matty's got his slangs . . . now a slang means, among divers things, a hawker's license.-Charles G. Leland: The English Gypsies.

VOL. II.

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allied to slang as abuse, or depreciatory language. Slinging off is much used among the lower orders with the signification of casting insinuations, making innuendoes.

Slangander (American), to slander

in a silly manner. Slangoosing,
women's tittle-tattle, backbit-
ing, or gossip
There are points on which we disagree,

And I will state the facts,
I don't go round slangandering
My friends behind their backs.

- The Breitmann Ballads.

to Skeat (Etymological Dictionary), “is from the Norwegian sleng, a slinging, a device, a burden of a song. Slengja, to sling; slengja kieften, to slang, abuse (literally to sling the jaw); sleng-jenanm, a slang (i.e., an abusive name); sleng. jeord, an insulting word; all from slengja, to sling." This is all, however, based on the assumption that slang means nothing but abuse, or “the slings and arrows" of vituperation, while it has never at any time meant that, or even “ vulgar language,” so much as what in Hindu is called bhat, a tongue used for purposes of concealment. A man may be abused to the utmost, and in vulgar language at that, without a word of slang being employed; while on the other hand, one might translate the New Testament into Romany, which is the very slang of slangs, or Shelta, or even canting itself, with the utmost propriety. Yet it is very probable that while slang, in the sense of bhật, or jargon, is of gypsy origin, it owes something in the meaning of "abuse" to a northern source. It may, however, be fairly admitted that the Anglo Saxon slanga (circumactio), and toislanga (dubietas) (not noticed by Skeat), somewhat favours the association of slang with “double meaning" (Glos. Alf.). To conclude it. should be noticed that the common English word sling is

Slang and pitcher shop, a (popu.

lar), a shop where they sell the commonest and cheapest toys, &c., for Cheap Jacks-knock'em-downs, prizes to give away, &c. From slang, a show, performance, and pitch, street performance, or place selected by itinerants of all kinds, Cheap Jacks, &c.

Slang boys (old cant). “Boys of

the slang, fellows who speak the slang language, which is the same as flash and cant" (Parker,

“Variegated Characters ”). Slang cull (cant), master of a

show. Slanging (cant), explained by

quotation.

To exhibit anything in a fair or market, such as a tall man, or a cow with two heads, that's called slanging, and the exhibitor is called the "slang cull.”—Parker: Variegated Characters.

The term has now a more extended meaning. Vide SLANG.

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Slang-tree, the, the stage,

the trapeze. Vide SLANG. To
climb up the slang-tree, meta-
phorically, to make an exhibi.

tion of oneself in public.
When I was a girl, and a nice girl I was,

At least so the young men asserted,
Society then was far better than now,

If now it's correctly reported.
The ladies of fashion felt no sudden passion

To flash their good looks on the stage,
No Lily or Langtry would climb up the

slang-tree, In hope to become all the rage.

-Catnach Broadside.

Slang us your mauley (thieves and

roughs), shake hands. A variation of "sling your daddle.” Slang-whanger (common), a

scurrilous or abusive person.

The personal disputes of the miserable slang-whangers.-Irving : Salmagundi.

Americanism for one who makes too constant a use of slang expressions, more especially applied to members of Congress, and of other legislative assemblies, who are addicted to vulgarity of speech, or are incapable of expressing themselves in refined or decorous language. Parson Brownlow is a local preacher and editor in Tennessee, and one of the slangwhangers of the south-west. — Harper's Magazine. Slant (Australian popular), a

chance. An Australian M.P., who had the very unenviable nickname of Rogue, was addressing the electors of Ballarat East, a constituency which included the rough mining population of Bungaree. The miners

were there in great force, and would not allow him to get a hearing, until one of their number persuaded the rest “ to give the old brute a slant,” when the speaker had the courage to address them as “Gentlemen of Ballarat East, and savages of

Bungaree.”
Slant, to (thieves), to run away.
We have collared the swag-let us slant.

-Sporting Times.
(Nautical), to slant across, to
sail. “We had a good slant
across the bay," i.e., a good

passage, Slap, paint for the face, rouge or

vermilion to colour the face. In allusion to “slapping,” a rough, cheap way of colouring walls in a house. Hence to apply rouge

in a hurry.
As a suitable commencement to the venge-

ful machinations
Directed against Maudie and her

chap”.
She nullified the virtues of her toilet pre-

parations;
Or, in other words, she doctored Mau.
die's slap.

-Sporting Times.
It is said that when Bath Mon-
tague, a famous light comedian,
who had had the misfortune to
lose his hair when a youth, pre-
sented himself to the elder Mac-
ready, manager of the Bristol
Theatre, the latter was very
much disappointed at the ap-
pearance of his new recruit.
Montague, although a gentle-
man, had been a brother
“faker” with Edmund Kean in

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turned the Tinker. “He's a reg'lar slap. up svell.” - Ainsworth: Auriol. A poodle they will play with, just to ag

gravate their mash; Their fan is more a weapon than a toy. They'll sport a slap-up carriage if he's not

hard up for cash, And they glory in a much-bebuttoned

boy.

Richardson's show, and amongst other bad habits had accus

. tomed himself to the show. man's slang. “When I get my slap on," said he, “you'll see that I shall be all there!”

“Good heavens! what does the man mean by slap?” inquired Macready, who was as great an autocrat as his famous son.

“Wait till night, Guv'nor, and you'll see!”.

When at night an elegant, rosy-cheeked youth, with the limbs of Antinous and the head and front of Apollo, bounded on the stage for Mercutio, the manager was amazed.

“Good God I” he exclaimed, “can this be Montague ?"

“No, Guv'nor,” replied the airy youth, “I'm Mercutio. It's the fakements-the wig and the slap, that does it.”

-Bird • Freedom. Slash (thieves), an outside pocket.

Properly a cut in cloth. Slashers (army), the 28th Foot.

The name is accounted for as follows:-"A Canada merchant refused to provide the women and children of the regiment with quarters. This happened in winter, and several persons died in consequence from exposure. Some of the officers of the 28th, however, resolved to exact vengeance. They donned the garb of 'red men,' and bursting in on the merchant while he was at dinner,

slashed' off one of his ears ” (Chambers's Journal). Slate (common), abuse, quarrel.

Really these things are ordered much better in England. After a mutual slate, a meeting generally takes place in Prossers' Avenue, or some equally lively location, and the results are somewhat deadly; but not until the next day after the encounter.-Fun.

(American political), the list of people recommended to office by a political party. (Old canting), a sheet. In Dutch slang slaatje, klein linnengood, small

linen. Slate off (common), to have a

slate off, to be slightly deranged.

Slap-bang (popular), a low eat

ing-house where you have to pay down money with a slapbang.

They lived in the same street, walked into town every morning at the same hour, dined at the same slap-bang every day.Sketches by Boz. Slap up (common), first-rate, ex

cellent, fine, spruce, fashionable. Might not he quarter a countess's coat on his brougham along with the Jones arnıs; or, more slap up still, have the two shields painted on the panels with the coronets over. – Thackeray : The Newcomes.

“Do you think he's one of our perfession?” inquired the Sandman.

“Bless you! no— that he ain't,” re

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A synonym for “to have a tile

loose.” Slater (common), a criticiser.

Frequently an airy and uneducated youth, who endeavours to be facetious at the expense of

the play and the players. Slate - smasher (American poli

tical), a President or leading statesman who will not attend to the nominations or recommendations of a party.

If there be anything I like, it is to see a slate smashed, or a caucus broken up.Cincinnati Weekly Inquirer. Slate, to (common), to pelt with

abuse, to criticise, to “cut up” in a review. From provincial

slate, to ridicule, to be angry. Wy, it's worth a fair six d. a week jest to see 'em a slating Old Chips.

---Punch “Don't think much of that,” says the pit; “ I expect it'll be slated all round.”

The pit was right. The piece was slated, i.e., written down by the Press.-G. Sims: Social Kaleidoscope.

Also to knock a man's hat over his eyes, or to knock him. (Sporting), to lay heavily against

a man or horse in a race. Slathers (American), abundance,

superfluity, “no end of.” Come along, old fellow, you're looking seedy; I'll tog you out-I'll stand a new rig for you, from a red feather in a new hat all the way down to high-heeled boots. I've got slathers of money, and I'm goin' to git more. It's high old times with me now—slatherin' old times, I tell you.Newspaper.

In the Midland counties slatter means to waste or spill, but the principal meaning of the word

is rather slovenliness or careless

ness. Slaughterer (booksellers), a man

connected with the book trade, who buys up large cheap lots at sales and reduces the material back to pulp. Also furniture dealers, shoemakers, &c., who buy their goods of poor workmen without having given orders for them, at "starvation prices." One East-End slaughterer used habitually to tell that he prayed for wet Saturday afternoons, because it put £20 extra into his pocket! It was owing to the damage sustained in the appearance of any painted, varnished, or polished article by exposure to the weather. ... Under such circumstances ... the poor workman is at the mercy of the slaughterer.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Slaughter-house (popular), the

place of business of a “slaugh

terer,” which see.
Slavey (general), maid-servant.
Or even if I was a slavey,

I'd rather be that than a man,
I'd get the first dip in the gravy,
I'd get the first sop in the pan.

-Song. Applied sometimes to a male. Then the boy Thomas, otherwise called slavey, may say, there he goes again. ... The slavey has Mr. Frederick's hot water.-Thackeray: The Newconies. Slaving gloke (old cant), a ser

vant. Sleeper (American), money which

lies unclaimed on a gambling

table.
Sleeve - board (tailors), a hard

word to pronounce, a jaw-
breaker.

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Slewed (common), intoxicated.

A maritime phrase employed by
sailors to denote the uneven
course of a ship in the act of
changing her tack or angle of
progress, and thence supposed
to describe the attempts made
by a drunken man to walk
straight. The word was very
generally used in America when
it was much less known in
England. It is, however, of old
Yorkshire origin.
I feel my head begin to swim,
I see a knock-kneed Seraphim,
I hear old Nick-I know it's him-

I'm drunk !
I cannot feel my feet at all,
I cannot see the nearest wall,
I cannot hear the missus call-

I'm boozed !
I feel that I have lost my purse,
I see my wife--that's much worse-
I hear the echo of my curse-

I'm slewed!
I cannot feel my way upstairs,
I cannot see to say my prayers,
I cannot hear my own choice swears-

I'm screwed !
I feel a thump upon my head,
I see a bedroom full of bed,
I hear the naughty word she said-

She's drunk !

--Sporting Times. Also slued. He came into our place one night to take her home; rather slued, but not too much.—Dickens : Martin Chuzzlewit. Slewer (American), a servant

girl; a vulgar word, only heard among fast young men. Sloor, slure, Dutch slang, a poor, common woman. Slick (studios) is synonymous of

rapid, bold, dashing. A picture which is dashed off is some

times said to be too slick. (Popular), fast, an Americanism. Never trust me if I ever seed a dinner go so slick! Yer don't need to carry a nosebag when yer goes out of a night, for yer can stow away enough for a week at wonst.--Savage London. Slick-a-die (thieves), a pocket

book. Vide DEE. Slicker (American cowboys), a

coat, greatcoat. From slick, old form of sleek. Slick is in universal use in New England with the meaning of smooth, shining, hence applied to anything nice, neat, apt, or appropriate.

Now, I'll wear this slicker and have a red handkerchief around my neck, and also wear this white hat, and for God's sake don't you shoot me.-St. Louis Globe Democrat. Slick, to (American), to swallow;

slick it down, swallow it. Dutch slikken, to swallow down. Also, “ slick it up.” Dutch slik-op, “ one that will lick up, or swallow down, almost everything that's edible” (Sewel, 1757).

Swedish slika, to lick. Slide (American), “oh, let it

slide,” or “let it rip,” never mind. Though claimed as an Americanism it is a very old English phrase. Shakspeare in the “ Taming of the Shrew” has, “Let the world slide ; ” Chaucer in the “Clerke's Tale” uses, “Well-nigh let all other cures slide.” To “ let her rip” is of Western river origin. Steam. boats when racing were liable to come to grief on sunken

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trees and quays, but in the mad excitement of a race no account was taken of these dangersit was all happy-go-lucky-"let her rip," if it so chances, so long as we out-run the rival boat.

we did not that instant sling our Danielswhich the Trombone informed me was an equivalent for moving off-he would shy at us every heavenly article of crockery his apartment contained.—Greenwood : In Strange Company.

Sling your bunk, go away.
Literally " sling up your ham.
mock.” Hence to bunk, to
go. To sling one's hook, to be-
gone.
I used to go horse-racing once,

At last I made a book.
Though lots of men took people's coin,

And then would sling their hook;
I paid my losses like a man,

Till I'd lost about a “thou,"
But I haven't (sym :) haven't (sym :)
I haven't for a long time now!

-Broadside Ballad.

Slim (old cant), punch. “A bob

stick of rum slim, a shilling's worth of rum” (Parker, “Variegated Characters "). (American), a slim chance, a poor

chance. Slingers (popular), bits of bread

floating in tea. Slinging off (popular), casting in

sinuations, making innuendoes. Sling, to (thieves), to throw away

so as to get rid of and escape detection. Thus a stolen handkerchief or any ill-gotten gains are “slung” or thrown away when pursuit is close. Also to pass to a confederate. Watching the “screw,” getting his dyspeptical neighbours to sling him sur. plus “eighters” with “puddings" on a Thursday.-Evening News.

(Popular), sling your daddle, give me your hand, shake hands. To sling, to blow the nose with the naked fingers ; generally to talk, to fling, as to sling patter, sling abuse. But Jack could always sling touching patter, you never heard such a crying tongue. -New South Wales Paper.

To sling one's Daniels, to move on, to run away. He flung up his window with a furious bang . . . swore in horrible terms that if

Probably originally a sailor's expression, as "sling your bunk,” and the phrase would explain itself as the intimation to let go one's hold of a boat by means of a boat-hook.

(Theatrical), to jerk or sling a part is to fill a part; to sling a nasty part is to play it so well that another performer has a difficulty in rivalling it. (American), to sling oneself round on the loose, to go about in a hurried, reckless manner. “Sling yourself,” “let her sling,” used in the same slangy way by the Dutch slingeren, to hurry about.

Slings a nasty pen is said of a scurrilous writer. Slings a nasty foot, is a good dancer. “I have rather a notion of Jenny. She slings a nasty foot,” meaning that she danced very well.–Sketches Attributed to Davy Crockett, 1834.

Also to give, deliver.

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Teach singing geography school for a change, sling a lecture sometimes.--Mark Twain; Huckleberry Finn. Slippery (thieves), soap. Termed

by French thieves glissant, that

is, slippery. Slip, to (popular), to slip any one,

to give him the slip.

He told the other policeman that I had been with another girl, who slipped him. -Standard.

To slip into any one, to attack him. Slither, to (Australian popular),

to hurry away, Old provincial. : Also“sliter.” Slither is probably only another form of “slide," and so may be taken to mean slide off, slip off.

Slither, you and your brother, or they'll nab you both.– New South Wales Paper. Slobber (printers), badly distri. buted ink is expressed thus. The effect is to show a “rot

ten” or “scabby" appearance, Slog (popular), a blow, a fight

with the fists. (Public schools),

a large slice of anything. Slogger (cricketers), one in the habit of slogging; that is, playing in an unscientific manner, striking the ball recklessly; for instance, hitting to leg or long off a ball which ought to be cut at point. (Popular), a quick worker. (Common), a prizefighter.

The great slogger had offered, per ad. vertisement, 1000 dollars to any enterprising boxer who would stand up “foreninst” him for four rounds.-Evening News.

Also slugger. Muse, sing of the merriest mill, between

two pugilistic rivals, That yet has been seen in the ring, in this

season of fistic revivals, Don't warble of Smith and Kilrain, or of Sullivan, known as the Slugger.

-Punch. Sloggers (Cambridge University),

i.e., “slow-goers,” the second division of race-boats at Cambridge. Called “torpids” at

Oxford. Slogging (popular), a beating,

thrashing, and fight. Vide To

SLOG. Slog on (printers). A compositor

is said to have a slog on when he is making a spurt either for the purposes of making a good bill, or because the work he is

engaged on is urgent. Slog, to (popular), to strike hard,

thrash. From the German schlagen, or Gaelic slogan. Vide SLOGGER.

This would produce the immediate entry of the night-officer, while the gentleman who occupied the apartment overhead would shower down sanguinary adverbs, and threaten to slog the jealous watchmaker the following day.---Evening News. Slop (popular and thieves), a

policeman, from back-slang, e silop, police.

I wish I'd been there to have a shy at the esilops.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. They found out as you're the parson as

'tices the gals away, They say it's through you they peaches,

and goes on the “Christian lay.” I dragged you in here and saved you, and

sent out a gal for the slops, Ha, they're a-comin', sir ! - George R. Sims: Ballads of Babylon.

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Then the magistrate rose in a roaring

rage,
And said he, “You may think it fun
The feelings of slops to thus outrage;
Just see what you've been and done."

-Topical Times.

Slope (alleged American). Of this

word Hotten says, “It means to decamp, to run, or rather to slip away. Some persons think it came originally from lope, to make off, and that the s probably became affixed as a portion of the preceding word, as let ’slope, let us run. It is purely an Americanism, and is possibly but an emendation of our own word elope. Lope, leap, and elope are kindred.” It is a pity to spoil so much ingenious guess - work, but slope is only American in being old New York, or Hollands Dutch. “Hy sloop weg,” he sneaked away, is given by Sewell (1754) as the perfect tense of sluypen, to sneak or slink away, and wegsluyping, an evasion or sneaking off. Lope, leap, and elope may be near kindred, but they are only fourth cousins to slope.

The defendant came up to him and told him to pack up and slope. He obeyed the constable's order.-Standard. Sloper's Island (London), the

artisan's village near Loughborough Junction was and is still so called from the frequency with which tenants “sloped" without paying their rent. This was more especially the case at first, when the houses were let out as weekly tenements. The “village” was at one time sur

rounded by fields, hence its being called an “island ;” now it is in the midst of a densely.

populated neighbourhood. Slop over, to (common). “To

slop over one's talk" is to exhibit exaggerated effusiveness of manner and words—to draw the long - bow with caddish servility or effrontery. A very subtle expression, and used in a variety of meanings, all of them, however, with something or all of the foregoing in them. Yes, to judge from the opening chapters, “When we were Boys” is an admirable essay in the art of slopping over. . . . The sentimental parent and the schoolboys who allude to their fathers as “pa” are bad enough, but the picture of the "unspoiled London ingénue," with her warbling voice, "luminous figure,” and insufferable arch conversation, is calculated to make the angels weep.-Globe.

The expression is attributed to Artemus Ward. Slops (thieves), chests or packages of tea. “He shook a slum of slops," stole a chest of tea. (Popular), garments. AngloSaxon slop, a covering; Dutch sloove. Shakspeare uses this word with the meaning of breeches. Old English slop,

gown or cassock. Slosher (Cheltenham College) is

synonymous with “ driver," an assistant in one of the boarding-houses whose functions consist in superintending evening

work, dormitories, &c. Slosh, to (American), to fre

quent grog-shops in a half-tipsy state.

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Tim isn't good for much now; all the good he ever had in him is fast oozing out; since he's taken to sloshing about he hasn't done a lick, and isn't worth a red cent.-Flush Times of Alabama.

Slouch (American), no slouch on

the shoot, an excellent marksman. From English slouch, Danish sloff, stupid, clumsy man. Slour, to (thieves), to lock up,

fasten up. A sloured hoxter, a

buttoned-up inside pocket. No sloured hoxter my snipes could stay,

Fake away!

-Ainsworth: Rookwood. From provincial slore, to grasp, or hold fast.

Slug (American), ingot of gold

or silver; twenty-dollar piece. (Common), glass of spirits. He ordered the waiter to ... bring alongside a short allowance of brandy or grog, that he might cant a slug into his bread-room.--Smollett: Sir L. Greaves. Sluice-house (pugilistic),

mouth.

Sam's sluice-house was again severely damaged.-Pierce Egan: Book of Sports. Sluicery (popular), a public

house. Sluicing one's bolt or one's gob

(popular), drinking. Slum (New England), explained

by quotation.

That noted dish to which our predeces. sors of I know not what date gave the name of slum, which was our ordinary breakfast, consisting of the remains of yesterday's boiled salt beef and potatoes, hashed up and indurated in a frying-pan. -Scenes and Characters at College.

Also known as apple slum, a broken-up dish of meat, from its resemblance to slum or slump, broken, boggy earth, mud, dirt, which used metaphorically in a depreciatory sense seems to have given birth to some of the cant significations of slum, as slum fake; slum, formerly a cant word for a muddy, dark alley; slummy, a servant-girl, &c.; to slum, to hide ; slum, bad money, i.e., dirt, &c. (Thieves), a chest or package, a package of bankbills, a trick.

That was his leading slum, and pretty well he sponged them too.-Mayhew; London Labour and the London Poor.

To fake the slum, to do the
trick; up to slum, knowing.
Also nonsense.
And this without more slum began.

-- Jack Randall's Diary.
(Prison), a room, a letter.
(Punch and Judy), the call.

Slum fake, a coffin. Slumgullion (American),a servant,

one who represents another. Should in the Legislature as your slum

gullion stand, I'd have a law forbidding Dutch through all this 'varsal land.

-The Breitmann Ballads. Slumguzzling (American), de

ceiving, humbugging.
But when Breitmann heard de story

How de fillage hot peen dricked,
He schwore by Leib und Leben

He hot rader hafe been licked
Dan pe helpt mit soosh slumgoozlin;

Und 'twas petter to be a schwein
Dan a schwindlin honeyfooglin snake,
Like dat lyin' Yankee Twine.

-The Breitmann Ballads.

TY

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Slummy (popular), a servant-girl.
Slump, to (American), to recite

badly, fail, bungle. Properly
to sink in mire, hobble, and go

about in an awkward manner. Slum, to (common), to go about

low places, in slums.

It is stated that for some reason or another this person was in the habit of slumming; he would visit the lowest parts of London, and scour the slums of the East End.-Globe.

(Common and gypsy), to follow. Also to fill, crowd, overdo. A gypsy's remark to C. G. Leland, “This here gav is slummed up”-i.e., this town is over full (of gypsies). (University), to keep to back streets to avoid observation. (Theatrical), to act in slums, or low pieces, or very small towns. (Thieves), to hide as if in a slum or dark alley, pass counterfeit coin, pass to a confederate. To slum the gorger, to cheat on the sly. Slung (tailors), slung out on his

hands and knees, instantly dis

missed. Slush (American), editorial slang

for any kind of indifferent mat

ter, poetry, &c., to fill up with. Slushy (nautical), the cook;

termed also “ drainings,” and
“ doctor.” From slush, grease
obtained from boiling salt pork

-generally the cook’s perqui.
site. Slush or sludge is also a
term used in Australia.

Sludge-lamps are largely used in backblock stations.-Keighley Goodchild.

Smack (tailors), to have a great

smack for one, to have a great

liking for him. Smack calf's skin, to, to kiss the

Book, on taking an oath in a court of justice. “It is held by St. Giles's converts," says Bampfylde Moore Carew, “that to kiss the thumb instead of the calf-skin, or book, is to escape

the guilt of perjury.” Small cap O (printers). This is

an epithet used to define an under or sub-overseer — from the fact that SMALL CAPS are subordinate to the CAP, but superior to the smaller or lower

case letters, i.e., the rank and file. Small cheque (popular), to take

a small cheque is to take a dram of liquor. Very common among

sailors. Small potatoes (American), an

expression of contempt, small potatoes being of little value, as Bartlett remarks, except for feeding hogs and cattle. The full phrase is, “Very small potatoes—few in a hill, rotten in the middle, pithy at both endsmighty stringy at that the hills a great way apart—a great way to go and dig them-and nobody to do it!” The man who fulfils all these conditions may be set down as of the minimum quality of small

potatoes.
Smalls (Oxford University), the

first examination at Oxford, one
of little difficulty.

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in counterfeit coin or “sours."-J. Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

A cadee smasher, formerly a rogue who professed to be a tout to innkeepers, but who occasionally acted as a smasher. There is a well - known proverb, “Once a smasher always a smasher,” showing how difficult is the reclaiming of this class of criminal.

Mr. Bouncer pointed to Mr. Four-inhand Fosbrooke ... on his way from the schools, where he was making a very laudable (but, as it proved, futile) endeavour to get through his smalls, or, in other words, to pass his little-go examination.C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Cramming for smalls. . . . Julia reminded her that smalls was the new word for little go.-Reade: Hard Cash.

(Theatrical), explained by quotation. Minor companies with “fit ups,” that is, companies carrying their own theatre, comprising scenes, props, curtains, wings, &c., who visit small towns and villages for one-night performances, are said to be “ doing the smalls."--Globe. Smash (prison), tobacco. Pro

bably so called from being passed in surreptitiously. Vide TO SMASH. To sling the smash, to bring in and give tobacco. Smash, also loose coin or change. (General), a smash means a breakup, and is generally applied to monetary affairs; sometimes it means to come to grief generally. (Popular) mashed potatoes.

The sweep asked him what he was going to have. “A two-and-half plate and a ha'p'orth of smash."- Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

(American), vide quotation of SMILE. Smashed (army), cashiered, re

duced to the ranks. In general

parlance bankrupt, ruined. Smasher (thieves), one who passes

counterfeit money or forged notes. Vide To SMASH. And then he proceeded to inform me that the individual mentioned on the paper was a smasher, or in other words, a dealer

Smash feeder (thieves), a Britan

nia metal spoon, from which the best imitation shillings are

made. Smash, to (thieves), explained by

quotation.

Take the base coin, for example-he is always in want of recruits. Old hands, however skilled in smashing-i.e., passing bad money will not do for him, they are known to the police.-Thor Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places.

To smash, literally to break coin by changing it. (Hence smash, change.) In French slang “casser une pièce,” to change a coin. (Lawn-tennis), striking the ball hard. Lobbing, too, has been greatly improved, and altogether the back-court player, if he possesses the power to smash a short return, can more than hold his own against the volleyer. -Pastime.

Smear gelt (old cant), bribe

money, synonymous with “palm oil."

Smeller (popular and thieves),

the nose.

Come on, half-a-dozen of ye, and let me have a rap at your smellers.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

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Because men generally smile while so doing. “Say, stranger ! won't you smile?” (I had been smiling unremittingly, I could not help it. But in America smiling, “seeing a man,” and “liquoring up,” are all one.)-Richard A. Proctor : Notes on Americanisms. Smish (old cant), a shirt or

chemise.

Also a blow on the nose. German cant has schmecker (lit. “smeller”), for nose. Italian cant, odoroso, lit. "full of smell,”

or sofiante, blowing. Smelling cheat (old cant), nose,

garden, nosegay. Vide CHETE. Smelling committee (American).

“ Persons appointed to conduct an unpopular investigation. The phrase originated in the examination of a convent in Massachusetts by legislative order" (Bartlett). To which may be added, that those who went “smelling about” the convent did not find the slightest trace of the alleged immoralities which they sought, while it came immediately to light that one of them was accompanied on this excursion by a kept mistress. Smelt (thieves), half-a-guinea.

(American), half-eagle, five dollars. In Dutch slang smelt is

Smiter (old cant), the arm ; a

sword, corruption of scimitar.

Then, Basket, put thy smiter up and hear; I dare not tell the truth to a drawn sword.-B. Jonson : Tale of a Tub. Smock-face (popular), a white

face, a face without any hair. Smoke (popular), an appellation

given to London for obvious reasons. I say, chum, do you know red-headed Jim, in your party? He is from the smoke. - Evening News. Smoker or smoke - shell (Royal

Military Academy), a chamber

pot. Smouch (popular), one who ob

tains anything by unfair means,

a cheat, a Jew. Vhile I, like de resht of ma tribe, shrug

and crouch, You find fault mit ma pargains and say I'm a smouch.

-Ingoldsby Legends. From Dutch smous, smousje, a German Jew. “So called because many of them being named Moses, they pronounce this name Mousyee, or according to Dutch spelling Mousje" (Sewell). Smouch seems to be allied to the Boer's term smous or smouse for a trader.

tin.

Smiggins (thieves), formerly

the soup given on board the hulks.

Smile (American), a drink of any

alcoholic liquor.

Your confirmed cock-tail drinker is not to be confounded with the common sot. He is an artist. . . . With what exquisite feeling will he graduate his cap, from the gentle smile of early morning to the potent “smash" of night.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Smile, to (American), to take a

drink of wine, beer, or spirits.

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Smuggings, snatchings, or pur

loinings; shouted out by boys when snatching the tops, or small play property, of other lads, and then running off at full speed (Hotten).

Smuggled (schools), pencil

sharpened at both ends. Smug, to (schools), to keep in

doors, hard at work. (Thieves), to steal, to apprehend. From the meaning of smugged, comfortably hidden.

Then two or three more coppers came up and we got smugged and got a sixer each.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Smouch, to (old cant), still used

in America. Vide SMOUCH. To obtain by cunning, to steal; also to take unfair advantage of one. “Why, Aunty, I don't think there's ten.” “You numbskull, didn't you see me count 'em ?” “I know, but”“Well I'll count 'em again.” So I smouched one, and they come out nine, same as the other time. Well, she was in a tearing way—just a trembling all over, she was so mad.--The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Smous (thieves). Vide SMOUCH. Smouting (printing), casual work

away from office—now called “grassing.” “Workmen, when they are out of constant work, sometimes accept of a day or two's work or a week's work at another printing-house; this bywork they call smouting” (R. Holme, 1688). The fine for

smouting was half a benvenue. Smouze, to (American), “to

demolish as with a blow" (Bartlett). To smash, German schmeis.

sen. Smug (schools), an untidy (pro

perly smug means tidy) fellow who does nothing but work. At the university an ill-mannered, ill-dressed, probably poor and generally unpopular student. (Popular and thieves) explained by quotation. From boy's term meaning to steal playthings when the game is out. After that he used to go smuggling, running away with other people's things. -Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Smut (popular), a copper boiler. Snabble, to (old cant), to steal,

plunder, sometimes to kill. Snabble, as if snapping up with the bill of a bird. Snabel, Swedish and Norse; hence

Yorkshire, a bird's bill. From prigs that snabble the prancers

strong To you of the peter lay, I pray now listen awhile to my song How my bowman he kick'd away. -Harlequin Sheppard, acted at

Drury Lane, 1724.
Also to apprehend, imprison.
But filing of a rumbo-ken,
My bowman is snabbled again.
-Frisky Moll's Song, from "Harle-

quin Sheppard,” acted at Drury

Lane, 1724. Snack (Winchester College), a

racket ball. Snaffled (popular and thieves) ar

rested, as if by the application of the snaffle-bit.

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Snaffler (old cant), a highwayman.

From old provincial snaffle, to

steal, rob. Snaffling-lay (old cant), highway

robbery. I thought by your look you had been a clever fellow, and upon the snaffling-lay at least, but I find you are some sneakingbudge rascal.--Fielding: Amelia. Snag-catcher (common), a den

tist. Snaggling (thieves), angling for

poultry. Snag on, to (American), to attach

oneself to anybody. Two ladies had just snagged on to me. -Howells : April Hopes. Snake (tailors), a skein of silk.

(Popular), to give one a snake,

to vex him. Snake in his boot, a (American).

One of the horrible symptoms of delirium tremens is the fancy that the sufferer is surrounded by snakes and reptiles, among other horrors. For instance, alcohol, which produces the phenomena humorously designated by our American friends as snakes in one's boots, on the other hand, if used medicin. ally, is death on snakes, or rather on snake poison.—Globe.

sinner,” “ As sure as green corn

in July,” are synonymous. Snakesman, little (thieves). “A

boy thief, lithe and thin, and
daring, such a one as house-
breakers hire for the purpose
of entering a small window at
the rear of a dwelling-house"
(Greenwood). Most probably a
corruption of sneaksman, which

see.
Snake, to (London slang), to

steal in a wary manner. A metaphor on supposed wariness of snakes. More probably a corruption of sneak, which see. This term probably was imported from America, where it is used also with the meaning of to take. Well, it beats me, and snaked a lot of letters out of his pocket.—Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn.

(Billiards), to snake the show, to win the pool at billiards. Snam, to (thieves), to snatch, rob

from the person. Also stealing anything that may be lying

about and making off rapidly. Snap (American), in England snaps

is a share or a chance in a job; in the United States the word is applied to a scheme, plan, project, or device. Free rides to brides is the latest "advertising snap" of Canada railways. Brides encumbered with “children over four years of age," however, have to weigh out the full fare.-Biri o' Freedom.

Snakes (society), “a caution to

snakes,” something very singu

lar. Snakes in Virginny, as sure as

there's (American), equivalent to declaring the absolute certainty of anything. “As sure as death or taxes,” “As sure as I'm a

Snap company, a small, indifferent theatrical troupe. One

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Snapped (American), drunk; pro

bably from schnapps, often pronounced snaps.

gathered for an occasion, as if at a snap. An itinerant troupe. One night, during the engagement of a snap company at the Chestnut Street Theatre, a little boy came down the stairs from the gallery during the first act, and inquired for the manager. The manager was not in at the time, and the doorkeeper inquired why he wished to see him. “Because," returned the lad, “I want my money back.” “Aren't you satisfied with the play?" was asked. “Oh, yes,” he replied. “The play's good enough, but the fact is I'm afraid to stay up there all by myself.”—Chicago Tribune.

To give the snap away means to betray a plot, so as to lose the profits. When Dowling heard of Joe's stubborn. ness he knew there would be a raid. He removed his furniture, and when the “cops” came around they found nothing. Harrison blamed Dumphy for giving the snap away to Dowling, and determined to get even with the latter.—Chicago Tribune.

Snapper (American), an impudent

tattler. Snaps voeren, to be full of impertinent talk; snappen, to chatter impudently. Snippish, snappish, and snobbish have much in common, and the Dutch snappery, idle, foolish gossip, is very suggestive of snobbery in a colloquial sense. Feeble as this etymology may be, it is worth as much as that which would derive snob from sine obolo and sine nobilitate, which as feats of philology may be ranked with Horne Tooke's extraction of Fo-hi from Noah. Also “the snapping turtle.” Snapper soup, pepperpot, tripe and oysters, chicken salad. Be pleased to have you call.—Philadelphia Press.

A soft snap, a profitable affair, an easy position, a good thing, anything worth having. From provincial English snap, catch, piece, share. Frank, old pard ! I just want fifty dollars for an hour or two-give it to you again to-night. I've got a soft snap on, can't miss it.-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.

(Popular), on the snap, or looking out for snaps, watching for windfalls or odd jobs. In the quotation it refers to eating and drinking I sorntered about on the snap.-Punch.

(Parliamentary), snap division, a division taken by surprise in a thin or unprepared House.

Snapperhead (American), an im

pertinent fellow, one who snaps or answers too quickly or impudently. “Don't you 'woman' me, you young snapperhead," said Mrs. Wayback, eyeing him with disfavour. “I'm a lady, an' don't you forget it," and she flounced out. Snapps (East End), spirits; Ger

man schnapps. Snarler (popular), a dog. Snatcher (thieves), a thief of the

younger and less experienced

type. Snatcher, body (journalistic), a

reporter or special correspondent of a newspaper who fastens on

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He was always hungry, and every time he acted as orderly managed to sneak from the tray the particles of food returned by prisoners whose appetites were not of the usual ravenous nature of the ordinary convict on "public works.”—Evening News.

"You're the bloke as sneaked the kicksies,” says he. — Bird o' Freedom.

Sneeze-lurker (thieves), a thief

who throws snuff in a person's eyes in order to rob him. Hence probably the expression “to give snuff,” beat, ill-treat.

any eminent man whose actions are prominent, &c.

The Body Snatcher of the D. T. (Daily Telegraph) has, we hear, been closeted with his “Peerage" and "Lemprière" ever since.-The London Figaro. Snavel. Vide RUNNING SNAVEL. Sneak (cricket), a sneak, “ daisy

trimmer," "grub,” “ daisy cutter” or “undergrounder,” is a ball bowled all along the ground instead of with a fair pitch. Though perfectly allowable, they are considered bad form.

Vide AREA-SNEAK. Sneaking-budge (thieves),

thieving, pilfering. Wild ... looked upon borrowing to be as good a way of taking as any, and, as he called it, the genteelest kind of sneak. ing-budge.-Fielding: Jonathan Wild. Sneaks (thieves), explained by

quotation.

That way, and in less time than it takes a healthy pulse to beat thirty, we are in the regions of gloom, and our footsteps (or rather mine are-my guide wore a pair of what, in criminal phraseology, are known as sneaks, and are shoes with canvas tops and indiarubber soles) are trespassing on a stillness instantly sug. gestive of death in the midst of life.Greenwood: In Strange Company. Sneaksman or sneak-thief

(thieves), a petty thief, a shop-
lifter.
Until at last there was none so knowing,
No such sneaksman or buzgloak going,

Fake away!

-Ainsworth: Rookwood. Sneak, to (general), to steal;

usually applied to pilfering,
stealing in areas, linen from
lines, in shops, &c.
VOL. II.

Sneezer (thieves), snuff-box, but

become obsolete with the com-
mon use of the article. A pocket-
handkerchief.
Fogles and fawnies soon went their way
To the spout with the sneezers in grand
array.

-Ainsworth : Rookwood. (Pugilistic), the nose, a blow on the nose. (Tailors), anything that puzzles. (Army), a very strict officer or martinet. (American), a dashing, thoroughgoing fellow. Alluding to a horse's snorting. Compare with SNORTER.

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Snick-fadge (thieves), petty thief.

From to snick, to cut, hence to

steal, and fadge, a farthing. Snicktog (thieves), to go shares.

To snick, to cut, and tog, clothes, coat.

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Snid (thieves), a sixpence.
Sniddy, snidey (popular and

thieves), bad, unfavourable. A
form of " snide."

Since Bill George was nabbed for liftin' them sax things is been very sniddy, so you'll be glad to learn as I have got on a new hook.-Evening News.

(Army), dirty. Snide (common), bad, base, spuri

ous, false, mean; as snide coin, snide fellow. Also, “he'sa snide.”

Sometimes the police will help the thieves by getting snide witnesses ... who will swear anything according to instructions.- Rev. A. Mursell : Shady Pastorals.

But no matter how often they sold him, He failed to perceive that their motives

were snide, For he always believed what they told him.

-Sporting Times. “Say! you, look here, now!” he would explain to a native, “these 'ere men don't want none of your snide outfits, but just good bronchos, and a waggon, and strong harness.”-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.

In Dutch, snyden means to swindle, “as some inn-keepers do,” meaning that they cut, or, as Americans would say, “chisel” or “gouge" strangers. “Men snydt de luyden lustig in die herberg,” that tavern is a swindling shop. Snood, in Dutch, means base, sordid, villainous; German schnöde.

Snide-pitching (thieves), passing

base coin. Vide SNIDE. Up comes old Andy, too, and says, “This ’ere young man's bin a snide-pitching with me, too," and he fishes out the duffer as I'd give 'im unbeknown.-Sporting Times. Snifter (American), to take a

snifter, to take a drink; from sniff, to smell something, to take a sniff at some perfume. We find in English snift, to snuff.

I would sooner snift thy farthing candle mad. - D'Arblay: Camilla. Snip (general), a tailor. From to

snip, to cut with scissors. “Alton, you fool, why did you let out that you were a snip?” “I am not ashamed of my trade.”—C. Kingsley: Alton Locke.

(Turf), information as to the certainty of a horse winning a race.

D. is in glorious form with his wires, and is certain to keep it up next week at the above meetings, for which he knows of several snips.--Sporting Life.

Common), to go snip, to go shares. Literally to divide, as with scissors.

(American), a small boy or girl, a small person. Generally in a contemptuous sense, as if the snip were conceited and ignorant. The writer supposed at first that this was derived from snip, a tailor's cutting; but he finds that in Bargoensch, or Dutch thieves' slang, the word means not only a young person, but also a heedless or foolish one. Shakspeare uses the word snipe with the meaning of fool,

Snide-pitcher (thieves), one who

gets a living by passing base
coin. Such are looked down
upon by thieves as of the lowest
rank of the criminal fraternity.

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blockhead. In French bécasse

(snipe) is a stupid girl. Snipe (common), a long bill, or

account. Evidently a play on a snipe's long bill. Also an attorney, possibly because of his “comptes d'apothicaire,” or very long bills.

(London), gutter-snipe, a street arab. Snipes (thieves), scissors for cut

ting off pockets. From to snip,

to cut off with scissors.
Snipe, to (American), to pilfer..

Yes, it is bad indeed in some respects.
I have to buy my own tobacco now;
Or beg it when I can from other boys,
In place of sniping it from the old man's
box.

- New York Sentinel. Snippeny, snippy, sniptious,

snippish (American), used in several ways; vain, conceited. Snippeny folks are not popular, and E. P. Roe says that almost anything will be forgiven sooner than thinking one's self better than other people.- Detroit Free Press.

the allusion being to the running from the nose. (Thieves), caught, arrested, i.e., tied up.

To snitch is provincial English. Snitcher, snitch (thieves), an in

former, one who turns Queen's evidence, one who causes one to be “snitched,” i.C., arrested, more probably from cant snitch, nose, a “nose” being a spy,

informer. Then your blowing will wax gallows

haughty,
When she hears of your scaly mistake,
She'll surely turn snitch for the forty
That her Jack may be regular weight.

-Lord Byron : Don Juan. "In Scotland,” says Hotten, “snitchers signifies handcuffs." Snitch, to (thieves), to give in

formation to the police, to turn approver. Hence to arrest.

Snivel, done a (tailors), wept, or

told a pitiful tale.

Also given to petty criticism, mincing and pert observation. Snitch (old cant), nose. Snitched (horsedealers), ex

plained by quotation.

A horsedealer . . . was showing a farmer a horse that was snitched, that is, glandered. It was a fine-looking animal and made up for sale. It was jigged, digged, and figged.-Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

Allied to provincial English to snite, to blow the nose, or the cant term snitch for nose,

Snob (University), a townsman as

opposed to a gownsman. (Common), a shoemaker.

A shoemaker charged with removing a front tooth belonging to a brother snob, against his will and consent, was ordered by a bench of magistrates to pay the complainant Ios. as compensation for the loss of the ivory:- Jack and Jill.

(Marlborough College), game of snob, a kind of rough game of cricket, such as playing two together or at tip and run.

Snobbery, hiding the (tailors), covering up the bad trade. Snob is a journeyman shoemaker, also one who works for lower wages in a strike; hence

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none like those who are habitually given to what New York Americans call snooping, a word derived from the Dutch snoepen, and meaning the going about and sticking one's nose into all kinds of places where it has no business to be."

Snooze (thieves), a bed.

Snoozey (old cant), a night con

stable.

bad work is expressed by the

term snobbery. Snob's-boot (tailors), sixpence. Snob’s-duck (popular), stuffed

leg of mutton. Snob-stick (popular), a workman

who refuses to join in strike.

Also termed a “snob.” Snob, to (tailors), to do work

badly, or in a slovenly manner. Snob is a shoemaker or cobbler, the phrase therefore exactly corresponds to the French saveter, which means to do work badly. Snock him on the gob, to (Ameri

can), to hit him on the mouth. Gob is common English slang for mouth. Snock, provincial

English for a blow. Snoddy (popular), a soldier. Snooker (Royal Military Aca

demy), a newly joined cadetstudent of the fourth class. Possibly from to snook, to lean the head forward in walking, in allusion to awkwardness in

drill. Snooks (common), the name of

an imaginary person given as a derisive reply to an idle question, or when the name of the perpetrator of some action is

refused. Snooping, to snoop (American),

to pry into, to go about picking up bits of food. “I think it may be granted by everybody that of all petty presumers there are

Snoozing-ken (old cant), lodging

house or brothel. Snopsy, snops (American),

schnapps, i.e., gin. Oh, I can jump, an' I can hop, an' take a

little snopsy, Oh, I can sleep just like a top, bekase my name am Topsy.

- Topsy's Song. Snork (Shrewsbury School), to

do the whole of a paper in an examination. To beat another in argument or repartee.

Snorter (society), a man who

excels in anything. From the snorting of a high - mettled horse. (Cricket), a snorter, “corker," "stringer,” or “clinker,” a very hard ball to play; one that puzzles the batsman. (Popular), the nose, a blow on the nose ; a regular snorter,

great hurry. Snort, to (Australian), to be

enraged at a thing, to refuse to do a thing. This is a metaphor taken from observing the horse. If a horse is afraid to do a thing—such as to swim a

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river, to go too near the edge of a precipice, to carry “game," or the like, he starts back and snorts, hence the expression. The French renâcler (to snort) is used metaphorically in like manner, and supports the ex

planation. Snot (thieves), a gentleman.

(Popular), a term of opprobrium.

Much used by schoolboys. Snot-rag (popular), pocket-hand

kerchief.

Snotted (popular), being reprimanded, hauled over the coals.

This corresponds to the French mouché, used in the same meta

phorical sense. Snotter (thieves), a pickpocket

whose specialty is stealing silk handkerchiefs. Snotter-hauling, stealing pocket-handkerchiefs.

You could make a fair thing by snotterhauling even if you cannot get on at flybuzzing.-- Temple Bar: Six Years in the Prisons of England. Snottie (naval), a midshipman. Snottinger (popular), a pocket

handkerchief. Snout (prison), tobacco; a

playful allusion to “pig-tail,” roll of twisted tobacco. Prisoners will brave all risks to get it. The most elaborate and Machiavellian plots are always in progress in a convict prison to suborn officers, and to tempt them to become the intermediary between the caged bird and his friends outside. The

officer who yields becomes “Mr. Wright” (which see), and the bearer of a clandestine letter or “stiff” (which see), his creden. tials; and armed with this he calls when off duty on the prisoner's friends, who, if they are well-to-do, pay cash down as a bribe. The traitor warder buys tobacco at the market rate, charging the prisoner about £5 per pound, over and above the personal douceur he receives. The tobacco is smuggled into the prison in small quantities, and passed by means of “trafficking” (which see) from the wholesale possessor to purchasers in exchange for food. Tobacco has also a price current in prison in food, generally bread, but meat, cheese, potatoes are also passed. It is always used in chewing. The term is also used by itinerants

with the meaning cigar. Snow (thieves and tramps), linen

hung out to dry on hedges or lines. The allusion is obvious.

Snowball (popular), a negro. In

French, "boule de neige.” .

Snow-dropper or gatherer

(thieves and tramps), a thief who steals linen hung out to

dry. Snow-dropping (thieves), ex

plained by quotation. “What do you mean by snow-dropping ?” “Oh,” said he, “that's a poor game. It means lifting clothes off the bleaching line or hedges. Needy-mizzlers, mumpers, shallow blokes and flats may

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carry it on, but it's too low and paltry for you.”—Temple Bar: Six Years in the Prisons of England.

Also “going snowing.” Snowy(thieves and tramps), linen.

My pals used to send stiffs to the schoolmaster, saying that I was wanted at home: but instead of that we used to go and smug snowy that was hung out to dry.Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

snuf!

Snuff-box (popular), the nose.

There's a crack on your snuff-box.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Snuff it, to (popular), to die, like

a candle snuffed out. In French slang “moucher sa chandelle”. means the same.

And I mean to live a good bit longer yet. Josh Heckett isn't going to snuff it just for a crack on the head.-G. R. Sims: Rogues and Vagabonds.

Snuff, up to (general), knowing,

expert, experienced in the ins and outs of life. Literally "up to scent,” like a good dog. Snuff is equivalent to scent, smell.

He knew well enough The game we're after : zooks, he's up to

-John Poole: Hamlet Travestie. Queer start that 'ere, but he was one too many for you, warn't he? Up to snuff and a pinch or two over.-Dickens : Pickwick Papers.

I am pretty well up to newspaper snuff, as it is, sir. -Sporting Times.

To put up to snuff is to initiate into mysteries of any kind, and generally to instruct in, make expert. He was some ten or eleven years my senior ... but having travelled all my lifetime, was better up to snuff than an ordinary man would be at fifty.-Hindley : Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

The thieves knew where to draw the line, and chucked the lot away in the garden, among the other weeds. They were up to snuff, but not to tobacco in this form.-Punch.

Snuffler (common), a religious

canter.

You know I never was a snuffler; but this sort of life makes one serious, if one has at all any reverence at all in one. T. Hughes: Tom Brown at Oxford.

Snuff, to give (popular), to ill

treat, thrash. Possibly alluding to the pain caused by snuff thrown into the eyes of a person for a felonious purpose. French slang has the corresponding phrase, “foutre (donner) or coller du tabac," and the police expression, “passer au tabac,” that is, ill-treat a prisoner so as to make him confess, or from obsolete snuff, resentment, anger, used in the phrase to take snuff, to be angry like a man snorting with vexation.

Snuffy (popular), tipsy. Snuggeries (London), explained

by quotation. Generally at one end of the hall is a long strip of metal counter, behind which superbly attired barmaids vend strong liquors. Besides these there are snuggeries, or small private apartments, to which bashful gentlemen desirous of sharing a bottle of wine with a recent acquaintance may retire. — Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Soaker (popular), a pelting down.

pour of rain.

That countryman was right when he prognosticated a soaker. The only in

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dividual I met on the road going my way was a timid-looking old gentleman in a phaeton, who was well protected from the rain with a mackintosh, knee-wrap, and a gig umbrella.—). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

Also a confirmed tippler. An old soaker who was a pretty frequent attendant at the Bell, at Bromley.--Sporting Times.

Soak, to (American), turn, change

gradually. This is old English.
Said Turpin, “ It is time to go,
I've a very fine plant, boys, I know;

While Oliver soaks pale,

We will rob the royal mail,
Before the cock begins for to crow."

-Broadside : Dick Turpin. Hence to exchange, barter, pawn.

The two youths made a call and the watch was soaked with a pawnbroker, and $20 obtained on it.—Daily Inter-Ocean.

A thin watery soup served out on some vessels.

I have known many a strong stomach, made food-proof by years of pork eaten with molasses, and biscuit alive with worms, to be utterly capsized by the mere smell of soup-and-bouilli. Jack calls it soap-andbullion, one onion to a gallon of water, and this fairly expresses the character of the nauseous compound.-Clark Russell : Sailor's Language. Soap-crawler (popular), a syco

phant. Stale, too, orful stale, my young josser.

It's wot all soap-crawlers say, If a party 'as "go" and “high sperrits"

percise wot you praise me for, hay?If he “can laugh aloud,” as you say I can,

better than much finer folk, Will you ticket 'im “vulgar,” for doin' it? Oh, you go 'ome and eat coke !

-Punch.

Soap (common), explained by

quotation.

Flattery is the confectionery of the world. In polite society it goes by the name of soap, and in general is designated • soft sawder.” — Diprose : Laugh and Learn.

(American), money. (Royal Military Academy), cheese. Soap-and-bullion (nautical). A

sailor's food is oftentimes of the poorest, not to say revolting description, and Jack has not been slow to signify his disgust thereat. The following are some of his choicest terms for such dainties:“ Lobscouse, dandy funk, dogsbody, sea-pie, choke-dog, twice laid, hisheehashee, soap-and-bullion, dough Jehovahs, tommy, soft tack.”

who practise the soap trick. “It is a simple conjuror's trick, and it is not difficult to understand. A number of cakes of soap are wrapped each in a piece of paper, and mixed up together in a travelling-bag, suspended by a strap round the neck of the operator. A fivedollar bill is wrapped around one of the cakes, and enveloped in the paper, like the others. It is then thrown into the bag, after having been marked by the thumb-nail, and the crowd are invited to pick it out of the lot at the cost of one dollar. Of course, the cake containing the money is not thrown into the bag at all, but is palmed (substituted by sleight of hand) by the head of the firm, who gives another cake, similarly

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marked. When the capper (con-
federate) buys a cake, he draws
a prize” (Confidence Crooks,

Philadelphia Press).
Soap, to (common), to flatter.

And the tailor and robemaker, between washings with the invisible soap, so visibly soaped our hero in what is understood to be the shop sense of the word.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

(American), to bribe. If a knock down were needed in a case, Griffin would perform it promptly and expertly. The bloods paid the fine, and soaped Griffin besides. —New York Herald

Soc (printers), this is an abbrevia

tion of the word “Society.” To be a member of the Soc. (com

positors'), hence not a “rat.” Sock (Eton), edibles of various

kinds privately imported.

The consumption of sock, too, in school was considerable, and on occasion very conspicuous.-Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Hotten says the word is still used by the boys of Heriot's Hospital School at Edinburgh, and signifies a sweetmeat, being derived from the same source as “sugar," “suck.” Swedish sock, sugar. (Popular), credit. (Common), to give one sock or socks, to thrash him. From provincial

English to sock, to strike. Sockdolager (American), a word

inadequately explained by its imperfect resemblance to doxology. A socdolager, says Bartlett, is a conclusive argument, a “settler,” and as that ends

everything, and as the doxology is sung at the end of the religious service, ergo, they are the same. As it is very commonly applied to a settling blow-two out of three of Bartlett's illustrations of it refer to such-it probably owes its beginning to sock, to strike. In Dutch a zaakdadelyk (or dadelyke-zaak) means “ a plain case,” admitting no further argument; but it is very doubtful whether this has any. thing to do with it. A zakdualertje, a bag of dollars, would come much nearer than “ doxology”—and as it is an effective settler to most disputes, a great deal might be said in its favour, but similarity of sound and even of meaning is not always conclusive. The most probable derivation is sock, a hard blow, and dole, to give. It is, however, possible that the origin of the much discussed word is the Iceland saukdolgr, which Jonæo, in the glossary appended to the Latin version of Nialls Saga, defines as meaning, among other things, dwellum, a sudden attack, also a bad affair, evil, and another authority gives it as impetus. Saukdolgr is pronounced almost exactly like sockdolager. It probably came from the Swedes of Philadelphia, as it is an old word in America.

And the thunder would go rumbling and grumbling away, and quit-and then rip comes another flash and another sockdolager. – Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn.

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Sam caught him a tremendous blow, clean bang in the left eye, one that nearly, knocked him off his pins. Every man in the room heard that sockdolager as plainly as he saw it. -Bird o' Freedom. Socker (public schools), football

played according to the Associa

tion Rules. Socketer (popular), one who

obtains money, “socket-money," by threats of exposure. In

French chanteur. Socket-money (popular), a kind of

black-mail extorted by threats of exposure, especially by accusations of an unnatural crime. Probably from soke, a payment made to the lord by his tenant for the privilege of being a sockman or freeholder. Anglo-Saxon

soke, a toll. Sock, sock down, to (American),

to pay money down, to slap down money. A common expression in Philadelphia. To sock it into a man, to press hard on him, to beat or strike, thrash or “larrup.” Also applied metaphorically on the Stock Exchange. If any feller dares to sport with my Eliza Jane, I'll let him have it hot and short till death shall end his pain; and if I find in any way that she is in the swim, I'll take a fence rail ten feet long, and sock it into him.-American Jokes.

To sock into, for to beat, thrash, is a common expression

in England. Sock, to (Eton), to eat. Vide

Sock. We Eton fellows, great and small. "socked" prodigiously. By the way, I

do not know whence that term sock, as applied to what boys at some schools call “grub,” and others “tick,” is derived ? for I question the theory which makes it spring from “suck.” I am rather disposed to accept the story that at the beginning of this century, one of the men, who sold fruit and tarts at the wall, got nicknamed “Socks," in consequence of his having discarded knee-breeches and stockings in favour of pants and short hose. The man's nickname might then have spread to his business and to his wares by a process familiar to etymologists, till "socking" came to mean the purchase of good things not from “Socks” only, but from any other vendor.-Brinsley Richards : Seven Years at Eton.

“To sock a fellow, was to give him something to eat or drink, outside his regular meals. Sometimes a boy might say, “My governor has socked me a book.' ... A boy has also been heard to ask another to sock him a construe of his lesson” (C. T. Buck. land, “Eton, Fifty Years Ago”).

(Winchester), to hit hard, especially at cricket. It also means to beat, or defeat in a game. Sock is a provincialism meaning to hit hard, but much used by slang - talking

people. And then he proceeded, in manner most

spry, In his muscular arms to enfold him, And said, “Dub up, or else you'll get socked in the eye!”

-Sporting Times.

Sodom (Oxford), Wadham Col.

lege. From a similarity of sound.

Soft (thieves), paper money. To

do soft, to pass bad notes.

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Soft-sawder (common), flattery.

Soft-sawder by itself requires a knowledge of paintin' of light and shade, and drawin' too. You must know character. Sam Slick. Soft soap (common), flattery.

He and I are great chums, and a little soft soap will go a long way with him.Hughes: Tom Brown at Oxford.

Soft soap over, to (popular), to

flatter, to wheedle.

Soft tack (nautical), bread. Vide

TACK. Spotless calico bags containing quarts and pints, and which were as eagerly purchased almost as the soft tack and the green vegetables the bumboat folk bring alongside ships that have been long absent on sea service.-J. Greenwood: Odd People in Odd Places.

So help me tater (popular), oath

or adjuration in common use, and of no definite signification. Synonyms, “So help me bob,” “Shelp me, Bill Arline,” “So

help me greens.” Soiled doves, prostitutes.

Soiled doves from the shades of the Evangelist, alias strumpets from St. John's Wood.-Saturday Review. Solace (printers), a penalty or

fine inflicted by the “chapel,” according to Moxon, 1683 — a term rarely met with now. If the offender would not pay he was solaced by his companions, i.e., whacked on that part (accord. ing to Shakspeare) "on which we sit down.”

Soft tommy (common), bread.

Originally a sea-phrase. Tommy, food, provisions (various dia

lects), Halliwell. I've treacle and toffee, and excellent coffee,

Soft tommy and succulent chops;

Soldier (popular), a red herring.

Vide COMING THE OLD SOL-
DIER.

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Soldiering (army), cleaning

accoutrements, doing the routine and irksome part of a soldier's duty.

Soldier's wind (nautical), one

that blows both ways-east and west. Sold up (common), poor or dis

tressed. Sole-slogger (popular), a shoe

maker. Solid dig (printers). A compositor

is said to have a solid dig when the copy in hand is very close, i.e., few short lines or whites

and usually without leads. Sollamon, Solomon (old cant),

altar, the Mass. By the sollamon,
by the Mass; on my oath, on
my word.
Oh, I would lib all the darkmans,
By the sollamon, under the Ruffemans.

-The Roaring Girl.
In the sense of oath it is pro-
bably due to the gypsy “Pré
mi sauloben !” on my oath! In
the sense of altar, Mass, it is no
doubt a corruption of sowlemas
(soulmass), “Sowlemas Day”
being an old name for the Feast
of All Souls. Compare with
Solomon's-Avon, i.e., Solomon's
Even, a Shetland name for the
3rd of November, and for a
superstition of ill-omen con-
nected with that day, a cor-
ruption of Sowlemas Even.

trary to small potatoes, applied to persons of little or no account. Franklin was a poor printer boy, and Washington only a land - surveyor, yet they growed to be some pumpkins.-Sam Slick: Nature and Human Nature.

I took to attendin' Baptist meetin's because the Presbyterian minister was such small potatoes that it wasn't edifyin' to sit under his preachin'.-Widow Bedott's Papers. Something short (popular), spirits

neat, short of water. When he thought of his friends who'd

grown portly on port, Who never on ale appeared ailing; If only he might dare to take something

short, Would the teetotal ghosts all start wail

ing? A pub! Yes, he will! He's hopped in

like a birdBut the curtain shall fall on our brother; We'll only record that the last words we

heard, Were, “Now, dear, let'sh 'ave jus’another!”

--Judy. Generally “summat short.” And as to the benjamin . . . he would keep it long enough, unless the owner stood a drop of summat short. – J. Wight : Mornings at Bow Street. Sonk, sonkey (popular), a stupid

fellow. From sunket, a foolish

fellow. Norfolk dialect. Son of a gun (popular). “An

epithet conveying contempt in a slight degree, and originally applied to boys born afloat, when women were permitted to accompany their husbands to sea; one admiral declared he literally was thus cradled, under the breast of a gun-carriage” (Admiral Smyth).

Some pumpkins or some pun.

kins (American), description of an important person; the con

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- Ingoldsby Legends. Son of wax (American) a cobbler

or shoemaker. Professor S. S. Haldeman is said once to have addressed a party of these men with, “How are you, my sons of waxes ?” The term is not re

garded as uncomplimentary. Soogun (Irish tinkers), a hay

rope. Soor (Anglo-Indian), an abusive

term. Hindostanee, a pig.

that is my way of proceeding ; that's your sort, this is the course for you to adopt. A good sort, or a good old sort, a good

natured person. Sorts. Vide OUT OF SORTS. Soundings (printers). Pressmen

are said to be in soundings when they get near the bottom of their heap. In taking the last few sheets off the "horse" their knuckles would touch or rap against the wood, hence the term.

Soot-bag (thieves), an obsolete

term for a reticule. Sop (popular), a foolish, soft man.

Provincial sope, a simpleton. Soph, abbreviation of sophistes ;

second year men are termed "junior sophs,” third year men

"senior sophs.” Sore fist. Vide WRITING A POOR

HAND.

Soup (legal), the prosecutions

which are given out to the junior bar in court by the clerk of the peace or arraign as the case may be. The custom is to give them out whether the prisoner pleads guilty or not, but in some places only pleas of “not guilty” are given out. They frequently form the first “brief” which a young barrister gets. (Printers), bad and sloppy ink is thus termed. (Burglars), melted plate; it is sometimes

called white soup. Souper (popular), one who

pretends conversion to obtain soup-tickets. (Thieves), souper or super, a watch.

Sore leg (army), German sausage;

an unsavoury allusion to its appearance. (Popular), explained by quotation. “These puddings, I believe, have nick names?”

“Yessir. The spotted is called sore leg, and the plain 'sudden death.'”— Bird o' Freedom.

Soup-shop (burglars), a place

where melting-pots are always kept ready, the price not being paid to burglars and thieves who have come to dispose of plate till the recognition of the plunder is no longer possible.

Sort (popular), that's my sort,

that is my nature, character,

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Sour on, to (American), to treat

unkindly, to act unamiably. “How's your girl, Charley?” “Oh, it's all up with us !” “How's that?" "The hot weather was too much.” “What had that to do with you?” “Well, she soured on me."—New York Sun.

Arthur_“My best girl soured on me yesterday.” George-"I don't wonder. I always said she was a little pickle.”Almanac.

Sour planters (coiners), rogues

who pass off counterfeit coin.

Publicans, we were given to understand, are usually the unfortunate tradesinen fixed on as a mark, barmaids being easily thrown off their guard by the customer's innocent appearance and manner. But a safer plan, and one more admired by the sour planter herself, is to perambulate streets of tradesmen's shops with her companion, with a sharp look-out for spoony shopmen and hobble-de-hoys entrusted with the till.--). Greenwood: Rag, Tag,

Co.

them. The shilling sour, in the opinion of 'smashers,' is the handiest, and pays better than the florin or half-crown, because when it comes to that value people examine it more closely. Shilling sours of a superior kind generally cost four shillings a dozen first hand.” And then he proceeded to inform me that the individual mentioned on the paper was a "smasher,” or, in other words, a dealer in counterfeit coin or sours.-). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

To plant the sours, to pass base coin. Southerly buster (Australian), a

piercingly cold southerly wind.

The climate of Sydney, always a detestable one, is never the same for more than a few hours. I have often seen a day there open with a hot scorching wind, which lasts perhaps until one o'clock. Suddenly a fierce, cold wind, a southerly buster as it is called, sweeps up from the ice-fields of the Southern Sea, and blows perhaps for two days, perhaps only for a few hours.--Finch Hatton : Advance Australia. Sov (general), a sovereign. Sow's baby (popular), a sixpence,

hog being a shilling. Spange (Royal Military Aca

demy), new, as a spange war hat, war helmet. Elegant swell, "you look spange.” Perhaps from provincial spanged, shiny, glit. tering. Spange is probably an importation from public schools, whose slang terms are often

provincial words or old English. Spangle (old cant), a seven shil

ling piece.

Sours (coiners), counterfeit coin.

Roman coins and such old money are called onion - pennies, or onions (provincial), onions are also sours, and the connection between bad money and sours appears evident. The phrase “to plant the sours," i.e., to pass bad coin, strongly supports this explanation, further strengthened by the Italian cant term argume, literally onions, and French slang oignon, both meaning money, coin. Again, the term may owe its origin to the acids used in electro-plating. But that is mere conjecture. “Sometimes when coiners are hard pressed, if there is no other way of getting rid of the sours, they secretly swallow

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(Theatrical), spangle-shaker, harlequin. Also spangle-guts. Spanish, or Spanish blunt. Hot

ten defines this as money, and suggests that it is a relic of buccaneering days. In America it is correctly limited to silver coin. It is a relic of the old

word Spanish-boards, or dollars. Indeed there's not one in the language

that I know Save its synonyms, Spanish blunt, stumpy, and rhino.

—Ingoldsby Legends. Spare a rub (tailors), oblige me

with some, or after you with it; possibly alluding to ironing.

Spark (American), a lover, a

“beau.” Flame is an old English word for a sweetheart; in America it is more peculiarly applied to a lady-love. “Where there is flame, there will be sparks," originated the application of the latter word to men. From this is derived “to spark it,” and “to go a sparking.” When the dew is just a sprinkling, And the stars begin their twinkling, And the day dies into darking, That is just the time for sparking.

-Broadside Ballad. I was about eighteen years of age, when, for the first time, I took it into my head to go a sparking. One of my neighbours a few miles off had a pretty daughter that, I thought, would just suit me.-Youth's Companion.

A spark in England was formerly applied, like beau, rather to a gay and stylish fellow than a lover. Our attention has been called to them and their doings by an indignant “Stall

holder," whose plaint we publish in another column. “Stall-holder" is exercised in spirit, and with reason, by the behaviour of certain sparks, or “bucks," or "bloods," or “Corinthians,” or “Macaronis" (their name changes with the centuries, but their nature is eternally the same), who make too much noise in stage-boxes and stalls, together with their “female companions." -Globe.

The Rev. A. Smythe Palmer, in his “Folk Etymology,” remarks: “ Spark, as a name for a self-sufficient fop or conceited coxcomb, has probably no direct connection with the glittering particle of fire which we call a spark, any more than flunkey has to do with German funke, a spark. Mr. Wedgwood connects the word with provincial English sprag, sprack, quick, brisk, as of a lively young man (compare spraic, vigour, sprightli. ness), and clearly further points out a connection with Icelandic sparkr, sprakki, lively, sprightly, also a dandy. See also Professor Skeat's notes to Piers Plowman,' p. 398.” Oft has it been my lot to mark A proud, conceited, talking spark.

-). Merrick: The Chameleon. No“ double entendres,” which you sparks

allow, To make the ladies look-they know not how.

-Dryden: Love Triumphant. According to Skeat, from same root with spark, a small particle of fire. Originally noisy. Ice

landic spraka, to crackle. Sparkle (thieves), a diamond. In

French (not slang), brillant.

I got her purse and found the ring. I saw it was a big sparkle. I noticed the size, and

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at once went in front of a jeweller's window to compare those in the window with my prize.—Evening News.

Also spark. Jack's conversation is essentially dia. mondy, and he speaks casually of having seen, whilst over yonder, a trifle of a quarter of a million's worth of sparks in a bucket. -Sporting Times.

Spark prop, diamond breastpin.

My pal said, “Pipe his spark prop.” So my pal said, “Front me, and I will do him for it.”—Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Sparkle up, to (popular), to hasten,

be quick.

Throughout lower London, and the shady portions of its suburbs, the window of almost every public-house and beer-shop was spotted with some notice of these specs. There were dozens of them. There were the “Deptford Spec," and the "Lambeth Spec," and the “Great Northern Spec," and the “Derby Spec,” but they all meant one and the same thing-a lot. tery, conducted on principles more or less honest, the prize to be awarded according to the performances of certain race-horses. -Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

Specklebellies (provincial), Dis

senters.

Specks (costermongers), damaged

oranges.

Sparring bloke (popular and

thieves), a pugilist. It was while using one of those places I first met a sparring bloke, who showed me how to spar.- Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Specs (common), spectacles.
No matter for that. He had called for his

hat, With the brim that I've said was so broad

and so flat, And his specs with the tortoiseshell rim, and his cane.

–Ingoldsby Legends.

Sparrow catching (popular),going

out sparrow catching is for a girl to go out for the purpose of finding a lover.

Speech (turf), private information

on a horse. In French turf slang tuyau, i.e., private information whispered, “dans le tuyau de l'oreille.” Speech is used in such phrases as “get the speech,': “ give the speech.”

Speeler (American), a gambler.

German spieler.

Spec (common), a venture.
Off I posted to the fam’ly lawyer fit to

break my neck,
And he philanthropically took the matter
up on spec.

- Funny Folks. (Popular), an occupation generally with an idea of uncertain profits.

They were “little doll” men; poor deluded wretches, three of thrice as many hundred who, quite new to the Epsom game, had heard that little dolls were the best spec out.-Greenwood : In Strange Company.

Other meaning explained by quotation.

Speel, to (thieves), to run away,

to decamp. Probably an abbreviation of “speel the drum,” to make off to the highway, take to the highway. Speel is from German spielen, to play, and “drum” is cant for highroad, so that the phrase is a play on these two words, and corres

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ponds to the French cant“jouer des trimoires,” trime, road, being from the same root as “drum," which see. It has been suggested that this term is from provincial English speel, to climb.

Spell for (popular), to long for. Spellken, spielken, or spell

(cant), a theatre. Probably from the German spielen, to play, and

ken, a place. Who in a row like Tom could lead the van, Booze in the ken, or at the spellken hustle.

-Byron : Don Juan. Spell oats, to (American). “He

can't spell oats," said of an ignorant fellow. This originated in a practical joke about 1848. One man would leave a grain of oats with another, who was in the joke, and then meeting another friend, would say, “Have you seen Jones? He has an oat for you.” The victim, not understanding the sell, would go to Jones and ask for a note, the result being, of course, a

treat. When men couldn't spell oats, they were

not given votes, Their place was to work, not to worry, And Brummagem Rads didn't pander to

cads, For office there wasn't such hurry. The friends of rebellion were one in a

million, They injured no woman or child, E'en traitors were Trojans, dreamt not of

explosions, And Parliament was not defiled. -Song: In the Good Old Times Long

Ago (published by Francis Bros.

& Day). Sphere (football), the ball.

Spice, to (old cant), to steal,

rob, from an obvious metaphor like “salt,” referring to overcharge; “pepper,” to ill-treat, &c. “To spice the swell,” to rob a gentleman; spicer, a foot

pad; the spice, highway robbery. On the high-toby spice flash the muzzle, In spite of each gallows' old scout.

-Byron : Don Juan. Spicey (popular), first-rate.

They live, when doing well, on the best fare, at the spiciest cook-shops.--Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Spiff, spiffy (common), first-class,

fashionable, spruce. Provincial English spiff, dandified. But, my gracious ! if I ain't got the spliffiest lot o' items for you about the French church outfit, 'n as usual I haven't left myself enough room to do 'em full justice, so must put it off till next week, when look out for a screamer.-San Francisco News Letter.

A spiff, a swell. (Trade), a small commission on sales. Spiffed (Scotch slang), slightly

intoxicated. Spin (Anglo-Indian), abbreviation

for spinster. Vide PUCKA. Spindigo (American), said of one

who has come out badly, as from an examination at college or a speculation on the Stock Exchange. Probably from the English army slang spin, to reject from an examination ; spindle, the third swarm of bees from a hive; spinny, thin, slender. To this some facetious person has probably added indigo, to give it a sufficiently blue tone.

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Spink (Royal Military Academy),

milk, or condensed milk. Spinning-house (University), the

ordinary prison of the ViceChancellor's court at the universities of Oxford and Cam

bridge. Spin, to. Vide SPUN. Spit (popular), a facsimile. “He's

the very spit of his father or
mother.” “Er ist seiner Mutter
wie aus dem gesichte gesch-
nitten” (Londonismen). French
“ c'est son père tout craché."

Emma has a baby boy,
To own it I decline;
But people cry and wish me joy
Because they think it's mine.
Oh, James, whoa James !
Whoa James, for shame on you !
Oh, James! whoa James !
James, it's the spit of you !

-Song: Spit curls (American). Vide Bow

CATCHER.

Spithead nightingales (naval),

boatswains, and boatswains' mates, on account of their calls.

Splice, to (Winchester College),

to throw or fling. (Common), to marry.

The moral obligation of matrimony was fulfilled, and they were indissolubly spliced.--Savage London.

Imagine his feelings, if you are human (and spliced), pity him.-Bird o' Freedom.

(Nautical), to splice the main brace, to serve out an extra allowance ofgrogin bad weather, or after severe exertion ; drink

ing. Split (thieves), a detective; from

to split, to inform. Two splits (detectives) got into the train, and I got ready to have a go for it if they put their hands upon me, but I got out all right.—Daily Telegraph.

(Common), abbreviated from two brandies or whiskies, and a

soda split, i.e., shared. So he sought him a bar where the thorough

bred tart
Regaleth itself on the longest of splits.

-Bird o' Freedom. Split fair (popular), tell the truth;

a variation of to split, to divulge,

inform. Split-fig (popular), a grocer.

Spit sixpences, to (common), to

have one's mouth parched up, be thirsty. French “cracher des pièces de dix sous.” He had thought it rather a dry discourse; and beginning to spit sixpences, he gave hints to Mr. Wildgoose to stop at the first public-house they should come to.-Graves : Spiritual Quixote. Splash (common), complexion

powder, as rice powder, &c.
To splash, to paint the face.
Provincial English splatch.
VOL. II.

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A new wrinkle at seaside resorts is the splurging of fair women on borrowed dresses. They only differ in degree from many other fair women who own their dresses, but whose fathers and husbands sometimes have to borrow the money to pay for them.-St. Paul Globe.

To cut a splurge is synonymous with “cut a dash."

Split, to (common), to let out a

secret, to inform against one's accomplices.

If I tell you all about it, will you promise that you won't split?-Greenwood : The Little Ragamuffins.

On the hold business. Just to have a chat. When are you going to split on your old pal ?-G. Sims: Rogues and Vagabonds.

“You needn't think I'm going to split, she said indignantly.-Fergus W. Hume: The Mystery of a Hansom Cab.

To go at full split, or to go as hard as one can split, means to go as hard as ever one can at full pace. Used by slangy Australians as well as in England. Old English split, force; “to make all split," an old phrase implying great violence of ac

Spoffskins (society), a lady of an

accommodating disposition, who makes morganatic arrangements

of a temporary character. Spoffy (common), applied to a bustling busybody, a fussy “finick.” From provincial English spoffle, to busy oneself overmuch about a matter of little consequence.

tion.

We had run him for seven miles and more, As hard as our nags could split.

-A. L. Gordon: Wolf and Hound.

Splodger (popular), a lout, awk

ward countryman. Splodgy (common), coarse, re

ferring to complexion, with

pimples. Splurge (American), a dashing,

brilliant display. At Princeton
University a student who re-
cited a lesson badly was said to
“fizzle,” when he did it credit-
ably he “rowled," but to show
a perfect mastery of the subject
was to splurge.

Spondulicks (American), a term

for specie or money. It would appear to have some connection with Dutch spaunde, “chips,” also slang for money, and there is also a word oolik, bad, wretched. The term probably originated in New York, in some confusion or perversion of these words. This term has become common among English turfites.

I'm derned if I'd live two mile out o' town ... not for his sbondulicks.-Mark Twain : Huckleberry Finn.

If the essence of slang be the misuse of words, some of the terms in circulation amongst many journalists, chiefly American, are slang of the most brilliant type. The following amusing “Proscription,” which appeared in the Chicago Post,

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instances a few of the more glaring examples :“Hereafter every reporter in this office shall be personally decapitated, and shall lose his situation who shall be guilty of the use of any of the following barbarisms of language :-Postmortemed, for dissected; suicided, infanticided, accidentated ; indignated, for got mad; disremembered, disrecollect, disforgot, &c.; abluted, for washed himself, herself, or itself, as the case may be ; sporn, for spared ; spondulicks, for ducats; catastrophed, scrumptious, recepted, planted, or funerated, for buried. And any editor, reporter, correspondent, scribe, or dead-beat shall, as an additional penalty, be put on half pay who shall write on last evening,' 'on this morning,' 'on yesterday,' or 'on ten o'clock this forenoon.'"

Sponge, throwing up the (com

mon), to give up, submit, acknowledge one's defeat; from the custom in the prize-ring. The principal second keeps a sponge during the fight, wherewith to cleanse and refresh his principal's face between the rounds; thus his throwing up the sponge, as it were, because it has become useless, is taken to be indicative of his side giving up the struggle. This is an almost recognised phrase.

The party ... told him that he must either return to France or throw up the sponge. General Boulanger refused to do either.—Daily Telegraph.

Spoof has been defined by Sir P. Colquhoun as “an unintelligible shibboleth, invented to indicate an idiotic game-a sell. Exactly as 'the loud laugh proclaims the empty mind,' so, to be an adept in the spoof cult, indicates, as the first qualification for that dubious distinction, softening of the brain." It no doubt owes its origin to the game of spoof, played on a draught - board with counters, which have to be whisked on the top of the adversary's own counters by means of a small stick. It has been suggested, however, that “ spoof is from provincial English spoffle, to busy oneself overmuch about a matter of small consequence, to rage over a trifle, as a 'great cry and little wool,' i.e., a cheat or sell.

Hence disappointment, deceit.” Love he used to think, I've said before, a

riddle; To-day he says the mot d'énigme is oof, And that lovers play a very second fiddle To markers at the noble game of spoof.

--Sporting Times. 'Tis oh! to be the people's “pug,"

Who is paid at halls to spar, Who's a lovely, unscratched, scarless mug,

Who lives like a La-di-da! Big battles he fights which are always

drawn, But draw much golden oof, He boasts of his biceps and “Boston"

brawn, 'Tis oh! for the game of spoof.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Spoof (turf), deception, swindle,

sell. Properly a childish kind of game like“ tiddlywinks.” Next day I put all my oof

On to Gold (sixteen to one),
And now I hear the cry of spoof,
The race is o'er, and he's not won.

--Bird o' Freedom.

Also the confidence-trick swindle.

Also to play spoof. The alligator and crocodile are just in the prime of life at too. There are par

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rots in the gardens who are seventy-five
years old, and still cheerful, and the swan
begins to think about putting away youth-
ful follies at 200. I hope the keeper who
told me all this knows that it is wicked
to play spoof on Sunday. I believed all
he told me, and kept saying “Really" in
such a sweetly innocent way, that he may
have been tempted to put the pot on.---
Referee.
Spoof, to (turf). Vide SPOOF.

“T," said the Wicked Nobleman, hav. ing previously arranged to spoof the crowd with the word “taint."-Sporting Times. His railway carriage he will choose and

pick,
Till he spots a likely lot,
To royally spoof at the three-card trick,

And to lift of a cosy “pot."
And he patters the while of mysterious tips
And dollars he cops for “stable” snips.

-Bird o' Freedom.

eat with a spoon ; löffel, gal-
lantry, and spoon), without any
reference to weak-mindedness
or folly. It is usual in Wales,
Norway, and Sweden, as in
Algeria, to make a newly-mar-
ried couple a present of two
spoons both carved out of one
piece of wood joined, or a kind
of double, and the writer has
in his possession specimens of
several kinds. The idea in this
seems to be that as spoons in
a set match and fit together
exactly, so should man and
wife. A spooney, meaning a
silly person, had originally no
connection with love, though it
became natural enough to as-
sociate silly fondness with affec-
tion. Vide To SPOON.

You don't mean to say you have been doing the spooney-what you call making love – have you ? — C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Spoon (common), courtship;

spoons together, much in love

with one another. Vide SPOONEY. She and I, dontcher know, are great spoons.

-Punch. (American), “to do business with a big spoon" is the same as “to cut a big swath” (Bartlett); that is to say, on a large scale. Also to help oneself fully, which is the origin of the German phrase, “Er isst mit grossen Löffel”—“He eats with

a large spoon.”
Spooney. There appear to be

two separate or distinct words
of this spelling, probably with
different roots. A case of
spoons, or of two persons who
spoon on one another, is a term
existing out of English, in
Welsh, Arabic, and German
(löffeln, to play the gallant, also

The original meaning of spooney, foolish, possibly owes its origin to the phrase “not past the spoon," i.e., childish, that is, · spoon-fed. “Can't you see it ain't open yet, spooney!” demanded the irascible landlady.-J. Greenwood: Dick Temple. Spoons (American), equivalent to money, means, or a fortune. “She has the spoons,” indicates an heiress.

Spoon, to (common), to court,

make love, to woo. Sometimes with an idea of foolish fondness, which was the original meaning. “You're not a bad-looking fellow. Spoon some woman, you'll soon be all right.

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man, turfite. Originally Ameri

can. Leastways I don't mean that exackly; I

like you too well; you're my sort; But you ain't took my measure kerrect,

I'm a Tory, a patriot, a sport. So wy should you round on me thusly? I

call it a little mite mean. If I took and turned Radical now; but oh! no, 'Arry isn't so green.

-Punch.

Sporting door (University), outer

door of chamber. Also “ oak." Vide To SPORT.

Some short time passed on, when the two met again, the broker in fine feather. “Took your advice, old man. Spooned a deuced ugly woman. Doing well. Look at my coat.”—Bird • Freedom.

“To spoon, borrowed probably from some of the provincial dialects, seems to be akin to Anglo-Saxon sponere (spanere), an allurer or persuader; sponung. (spanung), persuasion, seduction; spanan (past participle sponen), to entice, or solicit; the primitive form of which was probably spunan, implied by Teutonic un-spunalih, inexorable. Thus the original meaning of spoon would be 'to be seductive or alluring'in one's looks and manner, to woo'" (A. Smythe Palmer).

(Cricket), to strike the ball in such a way with a slack and almost horizontal bat that it rises up in the air.

They “pulled,” they spooned, they, in short, committed every fault of which the cricketer can be guilty.--Daily Telegraph. Spoops, or spoopsy (American),

a soft-brained fellow, or one whose manners are objectionable.

Seniors always try to be dignified. The term spoopsey, in its widest signification, applies admirably to them.-Yale Tomahawk.

Sport, to (common), to exhibit,

wear, as "sport a new tile.” “To sport one's oak,” to shut the door against visitors. Vide. OAK.

Mr. Verdant Green had for the first time sported his oak. Under any circumstances it would have been a mere form, since his bashful politeness would have induced him to open it to any comer.C. Bede : Verdant Green.

Spot (common), to have a vacant

spot, to be crazy ; to be on the spot, or to be “all there," to be thoroughly au fait of some business, occupation, or game. To be in form, or lucky, to be smart. An officer is said to be on the spot when he is thoroughly acquainted with his duties. “Off the spot" is the reverse. The metaphor is from a billiards phrase, on or off the spot stroke, the most paying stroke at billiards. To be on the spot, therefore, is to be doing the

spot stroke skilfully or luckily. Spotted (army), spotted mysteries.

Potted preserved beef, which

Spoopsy is from English provincial poop, a puppy. The ending sy is very often irregularly applied in America, as Jimsy for Jim.

Sport (popular), a man who gives

himself up to sport, a betting

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Also to lay money down for gambling, setting it on the spots. Spouter (popular), orator or

preacher. Also a whaling term for a South Sea whale.

may contain unknown ingredients, or be made of bad meat. But what do I care? Not a pennorth of spotted; and when customers come in and ask for a fourpenny plate with plenty of gravy, I take the money always look after the coin, you know.-Broadside Ballad.

(Army), spotted dog, sometimes applied to a currant pudding, but by soldiers used for a sausage or saveloy.

(Popular), spotted donkey, coarse plum-pudding, sold at

cook-shops. Spotter (American), spy in the

employment of the police. French indicateur. It is shrewdly suspected that there are regularly paid spotters who watch in the Paso del Norte establishments and note the customers who go with their purchases into the street cars, and point them out to the United States inspectors when they reach American territory.-Globe De. mocrat. Spot, to (common), to see, notice,

make a note of anything, pick out, identify

But I preferred pecking and prowling, and spotting the mugs making love.Punch.

The next tipster avows he will forfeit a large sum of money unless he spots the identical winners, “first and second.” Of course, nothing can be more transparent than bombast of this sort; but here it is in black and white.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

There are certain movements of individuals, as the extension of a hand, the methods of carrying a cane or a parasol, that mark the persons, so that, disguise themselves as they may, a trained detective would spot them anywhere, or under any circumstances. They are involuntary, and all the training in the world would not change them an iota.-Illustrated Bits.

Spout, to (common), to pawn.

Vide Pop.
He went out one Monday morning and
spouted his watch to raise funds. - ).
Wight: Mornings at Bow Street.

The dons are going to spout the college
plate.-T. Hughes: Tom Brown at Ox.
ford.
I hold it truth with him who says

That sometimes 'tis as well to spout
One's watch, and not to get it out
Till after lapse of many days.

-Bird • Freedom.
To shout as a street vendor.
I was out with the missis and the moke
a spoutin' my wares.--Bird o' Freedom.

To spout also refers to noisy talking or oratory. At its case, of an “uncle” of his, who'd a

spout, That horrid word spout no sooner came

out Than Winifred Pryce would turn her about, And with scorn on her lip, and a hand on

each hip, Spout herself till her nose grew red at the tip.

-Ingoldsby Legends. In the following quotation a play is made on the word.

A very interesting article on sponges has been written by one of our Consuls on the Syrian coast. It appears that these interesting, but lowly organised creatures, exist only by spouting, in fact they are the Grand Old Man of the sea.-Moonshine. Spout, up the (common), in

pawn.

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And his pockets, no doubt, being turned

inside out, That his mouchoir and gloves may be put up the spout.

- Ingoldsby Legends. In America there is a poetical paraphrase of this term in very common use. It is “where the woodbine twineth,” because in country houses there is generally a woodbine growing on the water-spout. It was invented by the notorious Fiske in reference to bonds hypothecated.

Up the spout is in allusion to the spout up which pawnbrokers send the articles ticketed. When redeemed, they return down the spout, i.e., from the store-room to the shop.

As for spoons, forks, and jewellery, they are not taken so readily to the smelting. pot, but to well-known places where there is a pipe (spout) which your lordships may have seen in a pawnbroker's shop. -The Times.

There were three of these floors, and the spout from the shop penetrated to the topmost. On every floorway a sharp and active youth, whose business it was to discover and send “down the spout” the ransomed bundles.-Greenwood : In Strange Company,

Spread (popular), butter. (Gene

ral), a meal, banquet.

At the conclusion of the exercises on class days all adjourned to the spreads (as the cold collations are called) in the various rooms and halls.-Life at Harvard (U.S.) College.

Next day I was present at a spread at the Mission Hall of a much more gratify. ing description. Next day was Wednesday, and for a very long time past, on this day, the good missionary among the savage tribes of St. Luke's has somehow contrived to raise from the charitable money enough to give the childrenpoor, neglected, literally half-starved little fledglings of the surrounding rookeries-a hot dinner, a smoking-hot dinner, and as much as they can eat of it.-Greenwood : In Strange Company.

(American), a bed covering.

Spread eagle (nautical), a person

seized in the rigging ; generally a passenger thus made to pay his entrance forfeit. (Cambridge), pulled and grilled fowl, a fowl opened down the back, and served up with mushrooms, &c. (American), as an adjective it applies to oratory.

The king was satisfied; so the duke got out his book and read the parts over in the most splendid spread-eagle way, prancing around and acting at the same time, to show how it had got to be done; then he gave the book to the king, and told him to get his part by heart.- The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Spread eagle, the operations of one who buys an amount of stock on time, and then bargains to sell the same stock within the same time at a higher rate, expecting to receive a profit from the difference, without expenditure of capital, but who, as by his bar.

Sprat (popular), my sprat, i.e., my young man, my sweetheart. Swedish spratt, beau, coxcomb, dandy. (Popular and thieves), a sixpence.

I got more pieces for the wedge. I got three and a sprat (35. 6d.) an ounce.Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

Sprats (popular), etfects, furniture,

i.e., “sticks," from provincial English sprats, small wood.

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Spread-eagle-ism-Springer.

stylish, in good form. (General), on the spree, on a frolic, bent on amusement generally involving feasting. This word, both as a substantive and adjective, is provincial English, used slangily. Said to be from Welsh asbri, a trick, mischief, under

stood as a sbri. She shouted out "Hansom "-I thought

she meant me, For I'd never rode in one beforeShe said to the cabman-“We're out on

the spree." -). Anthony: The Girl at the Park.

gain the option neither of reception nor delivery is in his hands, is at the risk of being obliged both to buy and sell at a disadvantage in order to fulfil

his bargain. Spread-eagle-ism, an American

phrase, first applied to exaggerated, extravagant, and vulgar patriotic speeches in laudation of the American Union, its present greatness and its future probabilities; first suggested by the eagle as the personification of the country, in the same manner as the lion is the heraldic emblem of England, the unicorn of Scotland, the cock of France, the doubleheaded eagle of Austria, and the black eagle of Prussia. According to the definition in the North American Review, as quoted by Bartlett, “A compound of exaggeration, effrontery, bombast, mixed metaphors, platitudes, defiant threats thrown at the world, and irreverent appeals to the Supreme Being.”

In Dutch, spreifest is a betrothal or marriage feast, which was of old in Holland the great spree of all others in a man's life. Spreifeest, trouwfeest, spreien, trouwen, huwen ; ook vrijen (Wordenboek van Bargoensch and J. Teirlinck). Spreiing, the act of betrothing or wedding (trouving, daad van trouwen ; vrijage), is both in sound and in fact very nearly an equivalent to “spreeing."

Spreeman (Winchester College),

a junior who is permitted to work hard, generally one who has been there some time.

Spread oneself, to (West Ameri

can), to boast. Now he was another man, and for the benefit of the “tenderfoot” he spread himself.-F. Francis : Saddle and Mocassin. Spread, straddle (Stock Ex

change), Americanisms for “options."

Springers, the. In America the

62nd got this name from their rapid pursuit of the enemy after the battle of Trois Rivières.

Spree (Winchester), said of one

giving himself airs. “He's spree" means he is a conceited person. Applied to dress or other articles it means smart,

Springer up (tailors), a tailor who

sells cheap ready-made clothing. The clothes are said to be “sprung up” or “blown together."

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Sprint (sporting), a short dis

tance race. Provincial English,
sprint, lively, such a race being
run at full speed. Also sprint
race. A sprint is a professional
walker.

Sprinter (American), one who is

making great exertion in run-
ning.

The young desperado ran like a sprinter,
but the young lady kept well up with him.
Finally, after a chase of about eight blocks,
a gentleman jumped from his buggy and
stopped the thief. - Kansas City T'imes.
Sprint, to (sporting), to walk in
matches, and to run in short
distance races. Vide SPRINT.
“Now that your son has returned from
college, do you feel repaid for your out-
lay for his education. Did he take any
prizes?” “Oh, yes, mum, yes, indeed.
He got a medal for what he calls sprint-
ing, and he must be high up in mathe-
matics, for he says he's learned four new
curves."-Scranton Truth.
Sprout (Yale University), any de-

partment of knowledge is so called, e.g., botany, mathematics, classics, are each and all of them sprouts. (American), a bunch of sprouts, the five fingers of the closed fist. Also the chambers

of a revolver. Sprug (Scottish), a sparrow. Sprung (naval), a man in liquor

is “sprung, slewed, or half-seas over” or “dead-oh!” according to the stage of intoxication. Sprung, like a boat full of water, which springs a leak. As she went along, the boys bid her be of good cheer, for she was only a little sprung:-Dickens.

Spry (American), active, nimble.

From provincial English spry, nimble ; Swedish sprygg, very active (Skeat). He rejoiced, for he said, “My blackguards will be spry and busy, and full of work."-Sporting Times. Spud (American thieves), base

coin, bad money. From spud, a bad or raw potato. Vide SPUDS. (Popular), a dwarfish, round, potato - shaped person. Also a baby's hand, so called because round and plump. Spuddy (costers), a street seller

of potatoes. Spudgel (American), to move or

run away speedily. Same as West of England spuddle. Spudgy, quick, speedy. Dutch spoedig, speedy; spoediglyk, ra

pidly. Spuds (popular), potatoes. Query

from the implement, the spud, with which they are dug up. Spud is used by Swift with the meaning of "short knife.” Spun (medical students), having

failed at examination. Spunk-fencer (popular), a lucifer

match seller. Vide SPUNKS. Spunks (popular), lucifer matches.

Spunk is an excrescence on the bark of trees, used sometimes for tinder.

Spur, to (thieves), to annoy.

The only thing that spurred me was being such a flat to bring them home.Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

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Squabash, to (popular), to kill.

From squab and bash, both mean

ing to beat, ill-treat. Harry the Sixth, who, instead Of being squabash'd, as in Shakspeare

we've read, Caught a bad influenza, and died in his bed.

-Ingoldsby Legends.. Squabble (printers). This is a

term for the more technical one “broken.” Type when disarranged and mixed, as if quarrelling, is said to be squabbled,

i.e., in “pie,” or “squashed.” Squad, defined in quotation.

Squad, applied generally to little parties, of little sense-as an awkward squad, a blackguard squad, a squandering squad, &c.-J. Wight: Mornings at Bow Street.

(Public schools, &c.), the pisquad, i.e., pious squad, a set who profess to be very pious

and good. Squaddle (American), to depart

rapidly, begone, cut and run,
or skedaddle.

And at once released the prisoner,
Sternly bidding him to squaddle,
Just as fast as he could make it,
Ere the starry night came on.

-In Nevada.

Square (thieves and popular),

honest, straightforward.

They considered themselves much better than many square (honest) people who practise commercial frauds.--Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

“Take my tip and turn square, from a hook who's going to be lagged," would be in common parlance, “Take my advice and get your living honestly, says a pickpocket who is expecting penal servitude.” Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

This word has recently acquired extensive currency among the criminal classes, and the functionaries whose business it is to cope with them; to square is to adjust, to settle, to make straight, to discharge a liability. “On the square," fairly and satisfactorily, honestly. The derivation has long been known

as coming from the freemasons, When I was an apprentice, I lived upon

the square, My boss gave me no money, which I thought was hardly fair

(The Cross Boy's Song); and the phrase, in its metaphorical sense, would not be justly liable to the reproach of being slang, were it not for its use by the dangerous and disreputable classes to describe the kind of honour that is supposed to exist among thieves and law-breakers in their intercourse with each other. (Society), square, to run on the, to be straight, honest,

reliable. Square backdown (sporting),

a shuffle of more than usual palpableness.

The fight to a finish between Killen and Conley, which was to have taken

Squantum (American), a common

expression in New England is, “She looks as if she came from squantum,” i.e., from some rustic, out-of-the-way place. Bartlett suggests that the term is probably derived from some Indian place-name, and states that squantum was a Massachusetts Indian name for the devil. Also a picnic.

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Squarehead (thieves), explained

by quotation. “Honesty among thieves” is un doubtedly the production of a squarehead or sham thief; a good thief will rob any. body.-Confessions of Joe Bragg.

Also Australian prison slang. Square meal (common), solid,

complete meal. Originally American.

Squawk (American, but of Eng

lish origin), to squeak or squall in a loud, harsh tone. Generally associated with the sounds uttered by poultry in rage, pain, or fear. A wretched failure, an abject “ fizzle."

Jokes may be divided into the first-rate good, the first-rate bad, and squawks. A squawk awakens in you a sense of horror, or of shame for the man making it, and causes you to be thankful that you are not in his moccasins.-Henry P. Leland.

I hear that when the members of the Metropolitan Asylums Board visited Leavesden a few days ago, they were regaled with a square meal of the most sumptuous description.—Truth.

Square rigged (nautical), well

dressed.

Square round, to (Winchester Col

lege), to make room at the fire for some one.

Squeak, a narrow (common), a

narrow escape. Metaphor from
a pig escaping through a small
opening.

It was a narrow squeak for me, as the bullet cut off a lock of my hair, and passed clean through my hat.-O'Reilly: Fifty Years on the Trail.

Square up, to (general), to put

oneself in a fighting attitude, to pay a debt.

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Squee - gee (American ; English,

wee-jee), aristocratic, refined, extremely elegant and fashionable.

No minister in the city, not even the one who officiated at the church where the family attended, was squee-gee (squee.gee is a Gothic word meaning high-toned) enough to conduct the services.-American Newspaper.

Squeaker (bird fanciers), a young

pigeon.

Squeakers — young pigeons — and you take 'em to the public - house, and you enters 'em for the race.-J. Greenwood : Dick Temple.

(Popular), a pig. Squeak, to (thieves), to confess,

inform.
I never will whiddle, I never will squeak,
Nor to save my colquarron endanger thy
neck.

-Retoure, my dear Delle. This verb is obsolete for to break silence, to speak for fear or pain.

If he be obstinate put a civil question to him upon the rack, and he squeaks, I warrant him.-Dryden. Squealer (Wellington College), a

small boy. (Thieves), an in-
former, one who gives informa-
tion that may lead to detection.
“Somebody saw him ?”
“ Yes.”

“And that somebody has been arrested and confessed ?"

“No; oh, no!”
“No squealer yet?”.

“No; that's straight. I see you doubt it, but it's true.”—Chicago Daily Inter. Ocean. Squeal, to (thieves), to lodge in

formation with the police. A “ State's evidence” man is a “squealer.” The term is, however, becoming quite common as expressing the imparting of knowledge of any kind. Variants are—to blow on, to give away, to let out on, to go back on, to scream, wheeze, whiddle. A pal squeals on his chum, and detectives will capture him in short order.Sub-head in Abilene (Kansas) Gazette.

Squeeze (thieves), the neck, a

crowd, silk. In the sense of neck the allusion is obvious ; compare with the synonym “throttle." Squeeze probably acquired the meaning of silk from squeeze-clout, a (silk) neckerchief.

After the place got well where I was chived, me and another screwed a place at Stoke Newington, and we got some squeeze (silk) dresses, and two sealskin jackets, and some other things.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

The latter asked Fife if he had been to see the squeeze (silk) that morning. Fife answered “Yes.”—Daily Telegraph. Squeezer (thieves), gallows. For Larry was always the lad, When a friend was condemned to the

squeezer; But he'd pawn all the togs that he had, Just to help the poor boy to a sneezer.

– The Death of Socrates.

Squelcher (pugilistic), a settling

blow. Old provincial. We find squelch for a heavy fall in Hudibras.

There's a squelcher in the bread-basket that'll stop your dancing, my kivey !-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

Figuratively a settler in argument or vituperation.

This last retort would have been a squelcher.-Evening News.

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In that position he used to write his can), to get a squirm on, to begin leading articles. Squelchers, some of them. -The Golden Butterfly.

moving, to bestir oneself. Pro

perly to wriggle. Squib (costermongers), a head of · Turn out your bundle quick, get a squirm

asparagus. (Painters), a paint on you !-Detroit Free Press.
brush.

Squirt (Harvard University), a Squibob (American), a term ap

showy recitation. Hall says: plied usually in contempt, but

“From the ease and quickness sometimes in indifference to

with which the words flow from anybody. From provincial Eng

the mouth, being analogous to

the ease and quickness which lish squybobble, a fuss, a needless

attend the sudden ejection of a ceremony. Hence a man who

stream of water from a pipe. is finicky and fussy.

Such a recitation being generally Squifíed (common), slightly in perfect, the word squirt is very toxicated.

often used to convey that idea. He never tells his wifelet what the nature Perhaps there is not, in the of the "biz" is;

whole vocabulary of college And when he rolls home rather squiffed,

cant terms, one more expressive just as the day is dawning, Do you think he ever tells her what has

than this, or that so easily conkept him out till morning!

veys its meaning merely by its -Sporting Times. sound. It is mostly used colAlso squiffy.

loquially.” Also a fop. It was melted so soon, I am rather afraid

If they won't keep company with squirts That our hero was squiffy, or worse :

and dandies, who's going to make a monkey And some might have fancied that most of

of himself? - Magazine : Jones's Courtit laid.

ship. -Sporting Times. (Stock Exchange), a man who

hangs about the market with a Squinny (American), to cause a

paltry order, and who will not laugh, to laugh, wink, and smile. Squinny, provincial English, to

deal fairly. (Common), a doctor squint; squin, a wink.

or apothecary (nearly obsolete). Squinny-eyed (common), a mo

Squirt your dye (American). This dern street phrase of general

means, “Now, do your best, application in an offensive sense,

your turn for action has come!” but rather out of vogue.

A phrase borrowed from the

dyer's workshop. It is generally Squinting (tailors), being without heard as “Now then, squirt your

food or anything requisite. The dye /”
French say of anything longed
for, “cela le fait loucher.”

Squish (University and public

schools), marmalade. The term Squirm or squirt (public schools), is used at the Royal Military

small obnoxious boy. (Ameri Academy.

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Stab (billiards), to make a stab

shot is to cause your own ball to stop dead on the spot occupied by the object ball, or only to run through it a very little way. Stab, on the (printers). A man

employed on regular work, and at a fixed weekly wage, is said to be on the “establishment,” and this word is very commonly

shortened to 'stab. Stab rag (popular), a tailor. Stab, to (theatrical). “Stab your

self, and pass the dagger.” A jovial synonym for “Help yourself, and pass the bottle.”

is a peculiar kind of affair, in which the dancers arrange themselves in two long lines, facing each other, inside of a lane of candles, half buried in the ground, and above these three muskets forming a tripod, and each bayonet having a candle spluttering on its point. Drums, fifes, and violins formed the orchestra. The cadets started with a simultaneous bound, involving themselves inextricably, and at last it became a mere competition who should work his legs and feet most excruciatingly.

-The West Point Scrap-Book. Stage-dooring (theatrical), hang

ing about the scenes or doors reserved for actors. Mr. — refused to put the chorus ladies into tights, and the public was gently but firmly made to understand that stagedooring was not allowed, that supper parties were forbidden.-Evening News. Stage wait (theatrical), keeping the stage waiting so as to suspend the progress of the play. One night, some years ago, there was what we call a stage wait-the next per: former had not arrived.—Sporting Times. Stagger (popular and thieves),

one who looks, watches.

Stag (Stock Exchange), a man

who applies for shares or stock in a new company with the intention of selling as soon as possible at a premium.

A stag there was-as I've heard tell,
Who in an attic used to dwell,
Or rather--to use a fitter phrase-
Who in an attic used to gaze;
And being blest, like many I know,
With little conscience, and less rhino,
Took to that frailest of all frail ways.

-Atkin : House Scraps.
(Thieves), one who has turned
State's evidence, an informer.
To turn stag, to peach, betray,
turn informer, from the mean-
ing of to stag, to watch, hence
to spy and inform. Also, a
shilling.

Staggerer (common), applied to

anything wonderful, astounding, that staggers one.

Jobson showed me what he rightly called a staggerer. Highland scene, cattle lifesize ...“ Had to get a Pickford's van to take it to the Academy.”—Moonshine.

Considering the slowness of the wicket yesterday, this in itself was a notable fea. ture of the innings, but the greatest staggerer was that one man made more than half of the total.-Star. Staggers, hungry, explained by

quotation.

Shall I let the chances of stealing a turnip off a stall, or a loaf out of a baker's barrow, go past me, while I keep straight

Stag dance (American), a peculiar

buffoon dance performed by men alone. Vide STAG PARTY.

After supper a universal stag dance of not less than fifty couples came off. This

Stag— Stale.

287

on, looking out for an honest way ?straight on, and straight on, till I get the hungry staggers (ou never had the hungry staggers, Mr. Magistrate), and tumble down on the road? I'm not such a fool, thank'e. I don't see the pull of it. -Seven Curses of London.

staga, to stop, as staying to listen.

Lest the transaction may have been stagged by some impertinent bystander or a trap, he mounts his box and drives away. – Jon Bee: A Living Picture of London for 1828.

So you've been stagging this gentleman and me, and listening, have you ?H. Kingsley : Geoffry Hamlyn.

Stag mag (theatrical), stage manager.

Stairs without a landing (thieves),

the treadmill.

Well, I'll tell you. Our last lodgerabout two years older than you he was, and as clever a little fellow as ever turned his hand to diving-he lasted as a lodger of mine only nine weeks. He's lodging now at Coldbaths Fields--getting up the stairs without a landing. Three months of it, and twice privately whipped. Bad for him, isn't it?- The Little Ragamuffins.

Stakes (thieves), stolen handker

chiefs.

Stag party (common), a party of

men. A simile obviously borrowed from the groups of younger stags who are driven away to associate by them. selves, when the stronger and older males monopolise the females. “I have observed,"remarked Cyn, “that among animals it is the strongest, bravest, and best who monopolise the favours of the females. A stag party of deer consists of the feebler bachelors, the fools, so to speak, of the herd. But in humanity the rule is reversed. Nineteen out of twenty of the ladies' darlings, the regular mashers, the dear Berties, are the very refuse of our sex, so far as brains are concerned. You may find stag parties of the most manly and intelligent men, in which there are some who never had a bonne fortune, and those who have enjoyed them had to work hard enough for their happiness; while a drivelling fool of an opera-singer, or a small actor half idiotic with vanity and ignorance, will be overwhelmed with loveletters from all sorts and conditions of belles."--The Stag Club.

I lose myself in a little party of old bricks, who, under pretence of looking at the pictures, are keeping up a small stag party at the end of the room. - Mace Sloper (C. G. L.) in the Knickerbocker Magazine.

Stake, to (American), to provide

for. A phrase derived from the picketing or staking out of horses and mules in frontier

life.

There is no doubt that he had plenty of money and plenty of clothing when he left, for his family staked him. It is known that he had $55 on the night preceding the murder.—Chicago Herald

Stale bear (Stock Exchange), a man who has sold stock which he does not possess, and has not bought it back. A bear who has been short of stock for a considerable period. Vide BEAR

Stag, to (popular and thieves), to

look, watch. Alluding to the fixed, intent staring of a stag. Suggested to be from Swedish

Stale bull (Stock Exchange), a man who has held stock for a long period without profit.

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Stale drunk (common), is said of

a man who has been drunk at night, and has taken too much stimulants in the form of spirits

the following morning. Stale whimer (old cant), a bastard. Stalk, the (Punch and Judy men),

the gallows. Stall (popular), trick, excuse, de

fence, humbug, pretence. Early
English, a snare, or decoy.

Also stale.
For two pins, wretches, I'd smash you all.
It's nice, on my word, such things I ne'er

heard,
You've been hiding my bird for a stall.
-Broadside Ballad: The Masher

and the Parrot. (Thieves), explained by quotation. “Little Burks (as he was called), the police detective, who was discharged for acquainting the thieves with all that was transacted in the detective department, wouldn't mind acting as a stall in a robbery."

“What's that?"

“Why, cover a robbery. If he saw a mob of thieves at work he would get his brother policeman away on some pretence till the job was over, and then claim his share in the swag."-Evidence given by an old Police Officer. Stalling ken (old cant), a broker's

or receiver's place. Stallion (circus), a piebald horse

(doubtful or varied in its appli-
cation). (Common), a lascivious
man.
Stallsman (thieves), an accom-

plice who takes charge of the
plunder; from to “ stall off,"
take away.

Stall, to (theatrical), to act a part.

(Popular), to lodge or put up at
a public-house. (Thieves), to
screen a robbery while it is
being perpetrated, to surround
an intended victim in a crowd
while a confederate operates.
(Old cant), to make, arrange;
"stalling to the rogue,"admitting
a new member. Also to conceal,
to carry off, put by as booty.
I met a dell, I viewed her well,

She was benship to my watch;
So she and I did stall and cloy
Whatever we could catch.

-The English Rogue. Stall your mug (popular), go

away, make yourself scarce. Thieves use this expressiongenerally with the meaning of go

home, take shelter. Stamp (printers), separate types

are commonly called—especially by outsiders—stamps. (American), a peculiar way of throwing dice out of a box. “I have seen three sixes thrown thrice in

succession by stamping." Stamp-backs (gambling cheats),

explained by quotation.

It is absolutely and utterly impossible to distinguish the microscopic dots and lines of the ordinary marked card while it is being dealt off the pack, and no man ever lived who could use them to advantage. The first of the kind produced were the old-fashioned stamp-backs, but players soon found out that no system of marks were eligible while the cards were in motion, and they dropped them.-Star. Stampers (thieves), feet, shoes. Strike up, piper, a merry merry dance,

we on our stampers may foot it and prance.

-Broome : Jovial Crew.

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Stamps (old cant), legs. “ Stamps Take a side in a dispute.

in the Harmans," legs in the (Thieves), have a share of the stocks.

proceeds of a robbery. Stander-up (American thieves), a

If I lend you these I shall want to stand

in; but I said I can't stand you at that; man who robs intoxicated per- I will grease your dukes if you like. sons under pretence of aiding Horsley: Jottings from Jail. them to go home.

Stand-offish (society), a noli me They gave Chandler the name of being a stander-up of drunken men. The proper

tangere manner. mode of standing-up a tipsy man, accord A hundred years since Versailles was ing to the rules, is to place your right arm almost divided into two camps. The under the left arm of the sleeper close to quarter of Notre Dame almost proudly the shoulder, placing the hand on his waist assumed the title of the patriotic quarter. coat, just above his left vest pocket. As Its denizens gave the first deputies of you raise him with the right hand, press France a cordial welcome, while those of your hand hard against his body so that St. Louis stood aloof. It is solemn and he will not feel the watch slipping from respectable, one might almost say standhis pocket into your left hand. - Phila offsh. Its doors keep people at a distance, delphia Press.

and its windows seem to look with a kind

of contempt on the passers-by.-Evening Standing dish (society), a com- News. mon expression for any one who is constantly lunching, dining,

Stand off, to (American), to put or calling at a house. “Mr. —

off by means of a trick. is always lunching here, he is

Loop-holed! Well, the man who built

this place expected occasionally to have to quite a standing dish.” Gene

stand off irate Mexicans who had followed rally speaking applied to any stolen stock into the valley.-F. Francis one or anything which often Saddle and Moccasin. makes its appearance before the

Stand on one's hind legs, to public.

(popular), to show anger, to take Lottery started with the call of Cigar and Peter Simple (the grey), whose oppo.

a thing in bad part, or to lose nents also included those standing dishes, one's temper. French se cabrer. Charity and Seventy-four. - Sporting Times.

Stand on velvet, to (racing), to

have all your bets secured, and Stand in, to (general), to have a

on the winning side. share in a bet or any speculation.

Stands on his ears (American), Here, hand me the flimsies, and stand an expression which, like standin with me,

ing on his head, or throwing I'll do a good turn to a friend of old

somersaults, denotes exhilaraFlo's. --Bird o' Freedom.

tion of spirits. Mr. , I believe, was asked to stand Man springeth up as the toad-stool, and in with him, but the Jove of the Lyceum standeth upon his ears when he is young, declared that the prices were ruinous. The but as he groweth older he wrinkleth up result, however, was an enormous success. with worry, and his beauty fadeth away. -Star.

-Thomas P. Montfort. VOL. II.

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Star-gazer (popular), a horse that

keeps its head high when trotting or galloping. Also a hedge prostitute.

Star-gazers (American), “ladies of the pavement, who walk by night, not so much, however, to study the heavenly bodies, as to dispose of their own." "Bats, night - hawks, owls, astronomers, nocturnes, moonlighters, moths, nightlies, nymphs of darkness.”

Stark-naked (popular), raw gin.

So called from being undiluted and unsweetened, being raw, like meat which is not dressed. Also “strip-me-naked,” “unsweetened.” “Strip-me-naked” is a variation, or possibly a pun, on the phrase "sip me naked.” His "bingo” was unexceptionable: and as for his stark-naked, it was voted the most brilliant thing in nature.-Lytton : Paul Clifford.

Star the glaze, to (popular and

thieves), to break a window pane; to star in that sense is provincial English.

So, in fractional arithmetic, it is considered highly improper to star the glaze, in falling through the sashes of a grapery, when on the look-out for grapes.-Diprose : Laugh and Learn. Start, the (thieves and tramps),

London, as having the siart of (being superior to) all other towns. Also Newgate Prison, as being the most important. (Popular), a rum start, an odd circumstance.

I got fullied. I was tried at the Start (Old Bailey).—Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Starting (popular), a reprimand

or beating

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Star, to (theatrical), to perform

as a star with inferior actors.
Also to star it.
To use a bit of theatrical slang, Mr.

-- is starring it with success in Wales, and is not likely to forget the extraordinary moonlight demonstration at Singleton Abbey.--Pall Mall Gazette.

(Billiards), to star is to receive one or more additional lives in the course of the pool game, on payment of an additional entrance fee.

Staruben (gypsy), imprisoned.

Where is Anselo W.? He that was staruben for a gry!--C. G. Leland: The Gypsies.

Vide STURIBEN. Starve 'em, Rob 'em, and Cheat 'em, slang names for the contiguous or united towns of Stroud, Rochester, and Chatham. “So called,” says Grose, “by soldiers and sailors, and not without good reason.” Stash, to (common), to cease,

stop, stay, leave off. As this word agrees in every particular as to meaning with the gypsy hatch, it is possibly an anagram of it, or a corruption of to stanch, which formerly had the limited meaning of to stop. What to the heel do you stash at? I'l! chive you.--Jon Bee: A Living Picture of London. Stationery (theatrical), paper, or

orders in a theatre. Staving, rip-staving, rip-staver

ing (American), to stave, i.e., to break into, as to stave a cask, is correct. From this comes to

stave, to burst through, or press onward. “The world will stave right on," "Where are you staving to ?" Hence staving, dashing on, proceeding brilliantly, doing well, as a staving business. “Ripping and staving along” may be heard sometimes. "Rip. snorter, rip-staver, a tearer, driver,

dasher” (Bartlett). Vide RIP. Stay (American). “To be stayed

with is to be courted by a man” (Bartlett). To stay with a womau is to carry courtship to the extreme. (Common), to stay is said of a horse or man with powers of endurance.

M. Carnot ... has been unquestionably the most hard-worked citizen in this country; yet he has amazed his entourage by his staying powers.--Daily Telegraph. Stayer (sporting), one not to

be discouraged. An athlete or horse who has powers of endurance.

The distance was half-a-mile, and considerable interest was taken in the race, in which a fine contest was expected to ensue between the holder, H. C. S., and J. N., who has previously been known as a shortdistance swimmer rather than a stayer, Pastime.

Gonfalon is stopped by his penalty, and is nearly certain to give way to Theophrastus, who is a rare old stayer.Referee.

Stay out (Eton), meaning the re

verse.

Sometimes Blazes had a lazy fit, and put himself on the sick list for a day. This was called stay out, for the reason that one had to stay in.--Brinsley Richards: Seven Years at Eton.

Many things at Eton were called by misnomers, in the construction of which

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Steel-pen (common). A steel-pen

coat is a dress coat. As regards the coat, the Emperor has sternly set his face against the “swallowtail," "claw-hammer,” or steel-pen garment which, for the last sixty years, has been mercilessly inflicted on civilised society all over the world.—Daily Telegraph.

the sucus a non lucendo principle came
out very strong. Thus, when we stayed
in, we said we were staying out ; when
“absence" was called, we had to be
present; a third of a year was called a
half, &c. &c.-Sketchy Memories of Eton.
Stay-tape (trade), a dry goods

clerk or salesman.
Steak, a two-eyed (popular), a

bloater, or “soger,” or red her

ring Steamer (American), a tobacco

pipe. Steaming (popular), a pudding

steamed. In Manchester a potato-pie is called a steam-engine. The term is much used in the

army. Steel, prison slang for Coldbath

Fields, from the Bastille. A name it earned rightly from its abominable management in the early part of the nineteenth century, and wrongly from the ignorant outcry which greeted the introduction of the separate (or silent and solitary) system of imprisonment. “And the Steel—the place to which Mr. Eggshells alludes in connection with his retirement ?"

“ Coldbath Fields," responded Mr. Badger, promptly, “quod- gaol - prison that's the Steel.”—). Greenwood : Dick Temple.

The term has been extended
to any prison, lock-up.
He pitched into the policeman, was
lugged off to the steel, had up before
the magistrate, and got a month.—Thor
Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places.
Steel-bar drivers (popular),

journeymen tailors. Termed
also “flingers.”

Steep (American), extreme. “A

steep price.” Steep grade, a rather difficult undertaking. De Vere remarks that steep is not only used in its literal sense, but by a kind of bold hyperbole applied to things generally. Men speak of “a steep price for a farm," and complain of “a steep tax to be paid.” The French have raide (steep), for anything difficult to perform, to believe, or to stomach. At the election in Minnesota one hun. dred and ten Winnebago Indians, wearing their blankets, voted the Democratic ticket; but the agent thought this was rather steep, so he afterwards crossed that number from the list.-Chicago Tribune. Steeple-house, Puritan for

church. Stems (popular), the legs. Stem-winder (American), applied

to anything quite perfect and finished, “with the latest improvements." “Denver.”

“Yes, sir, you're right, Denver. Now, there's a booming city-regular stem. winder. Ever been to Denver ?”

“Yes, siree. Denver is a prerty slick sort of a place. Didn't stay there long, eh?"-American Newspaper.

Step down and step out! (Ame

rican), an intimation to cease,

Step-Stick.

293

or a hint that a man has the worst of it.

Last night I had a single brown, a faggot

thought I'd buy, I dropped the stever down the sink, and

then said with a sigh,
"I can't get at it."

--Catnach Press Broadside.

Step it, to (common), to run away.

Mr. Curtis slipped into his pockets nine silver knives, and some dessert spoons and forks, and then we regret to say he stepped it, but he did so like a gentleman.-Daily Telegraph.

Stepper (prison), the treadmill. Stepping it army), desertion. When a soldier absents himself with no intention of returning, he is said to have stepped it by his comrades.

Stepping ken, a dance-house.

English, but now more used in America, where the dance-house is much commoner than in England. It is a dancing-hall frequented by sailors, and the lowest classes of men and women of all kinds.

obsolete as a slang word for a brothel ; we find it in Chaucer: In Flaundres whilom was a companye Of yonge folks, that haunteden folye As ryot, hasard, stywes, and tavernes.

-The Pardoner's Tale. The name of stew originated from such establishments being generally held in conjunction with places where hot baths were kept, and where the men who frequented them, if afraid of infection, might resort to the hot bath and induce copious perspiration, by way of possible purification. A prostitute was often called a stew, in the seven

teenth century. Steward (American cadet), the

doctor at West Point, United States Military Academy.

Stereo (printers), any one relating

stale news to his companions, would be told it was stereo, i.e.,

cast." Vide GEORGE HORNE.

Stick (general and American),

an inefficient person.

If you've got any sticks working in this office I want them discharged at once. I can't allow any but first-class men in this department.--Chicago Tribune.

Steven (thieves), money. Vide

STEVER. I rather fancies that it's news, How in a mill, both men should lose; For vere the odds are thus made even, It plays the dickens with the steven.

-Ainsworth: Rookwood.

Stever (popular), a penny; Dutch,

stuiver. English stiver. But now I've grown to man's estate, for

work I've never cared, I've “prossed” my meals from off my pals,

ofttimes I've badly fared ;

An awkward and uninteresting actor is often called a stick. (Thieves), a crowbar; of more recent creation than its synonym the historical “jemmy." Burglars that “work with the siick” are looked down upon by those that “work with the 'screws.'"

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“What tools will you want?” “We shall want some twirls and the stick."Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(Silver trade, &c.), stick, for candlestick, also a candle. Sticker (popular), a butcher or slaughterer. Sporting with feelings, 'tis too bad,

Although a butcher's boy, For stickers may be made to smart . With love's cruel alloy. -W. B.: Sporting with Young Kill

Bull's Heart.

security for the payment of a week's rent. -). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

To tide over till then is a work of some difficulty, but the sticks and the “wardrobe" of the family have paid the rent up to now.-George R. Sims: How the Poor Live.

A poor woman owed iis. 3d. for rent. A broker distrained on her goods. They were sold at auction for £2, is. gd., the expenses amounting to £2, 4s. Among other items ios. had been charged for advertising her miserable sticks.- Daily

Telegraph.

Stick-hopper (sport), hurdle

racer. First Fiddler is being taught hurdlejumping at Richmond, where they are re. ported to have two or three very promising stick-hoppers.--Evening News. Sticking (theatrical), or “dead

stick," when all concerned get muddled. Stick in, to (cricket), or to keep

up one's wicket, is to avoid getting out by careful play without attempting to make runs.

(Printers), another slang term for bad or hard printing rollers. (Racing), hurdles.

Some little time back Trap was smart over sticks, but now, I fear, he is no flyer ; and of the others, Lowestoft, if he can jump, might have to be reckoned with, while both Never and Windsor did better at Croydon than is imagined.-Evening News.

(Cricket), the stumps. Every ball on the sticks, And the wicket playing vilely up to all kinds of tricks.

-Bird o' Freedom. (Old cant), pistols. Sticks and stones (popular), one's

sticks and stones are one's household goods and possessions, equivalent to Lares and Penates.

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Stick it up, to (popular), to put

a charge down to any account,

to score. The old man has died and left in his will That all is for me so I'll pay every bill, Though some stick it up, now I'll pay

money down, And ride in my carriage all over the town.

-Charles Sheard : I'm a Millionaire.

Sticks (common), furniture.

To the individual whose average earn. ings are perhaps half-a-crown a day, furnished lodgings are of course out of the question, and so none will permit him to occupy a room in a private house, unless he has at least a few sticks by way of

Stick, to cut one's. Vide CUT

ONE'S STICK. “That lad,” said he to the sergeant, when the lad had gone out, apprentice to a customer of mine. I suppose he's cut his stick.”—The Gaol Cradle. Stick, to stick, to be stuck. This

word, in the sense of to cheat, to be taken in, or as signifying loss, is English, but like many slang terms it has been very

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much extended and developed in the United States. Thus any and every kind of miscalculation, or error, or mistake, involves or results in being stuck, or in a stick. A man left with a certain number of unsaleable articles is stuck to that amount, and so on. There is a story of a country fellow, who, having gone into an auction, was told after it was over that he must pay for an immense quantity of goods which he had purchased. “Why, I didn't buy no goods,” he replied. “ Yes, you did," replied the auctioneer. “Every time I winked to you, you nodded again, and that was a bid.” “'Twan't no bid,” cried the countryman. “You kep a winkin' at me, as much as to say, 'Yes, you see how I'm goin' to stick somebody this time,' and I nodded back, meanin' 'I'm darned if you don't, mister.'” (Popular and thieves), to stick up, to deceive, cheat, disappoint. Now don't stick me up (disappoint); meet me at six to-night.-Horsley: Jottings from jail.

(Australian), to rob, to entrap, to take violent possession of. To stick up literally sig. nifies to stop. “Stop,” in the days of highwaymen in England. had a similarly disagreeable connotation. Australians talk of a bank being stuck up, i.e., robbed, of being stuck up by bushrangers, &c. Why, they stuck up Wilson's Station there, and murdered the man and woman in the kitchen; they then planted inside

“Why a Scotchman in particular?”

“Because he keeps the Sabbath, and everything else he can lay hands on."

A dialogue heard after the joke came out in Punch. Stiff (general), paper of any kind,

so called from its stiffness; a promissory note, used in contrast with “hard,” which signi. fies cash, or hard money. To do a “bit of stiff” is to accept or endorse a bill.

could not otherwise obtain his share of the plunder than by taking paper from P., i.e., stiff, in the form “I promise to pay." —Jon Bee: A Living Picture of London.

(American turf), literally corpse; explained by quotation. “What do they mean by a stiff in the race?"

"That means generally a horse that on public form should win the race, and that either the jockey, trainer, or horse has been fixed' so that he will not win. I

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have heard the term "bookmaker's stiff' Stiff 'un (popular), a corpse. used, and it means about the same thing, and is played at the expense of the public

(Turf), a horse certain not to and in the interest of the bookmakers.”

run. In America “stiff.” St. Louis Republican.

The shilling you sent me, dearest mother, (Popular and thieves), a letter,

Has caused your boy some weeks of

mental pain, a secret or clandestine com I backed a stiff'un with it, dearest mother, munication between a prisoner You shall have it when the Gee-gees run and his friends outside, or again. between one and another. It

-When the Gee-gees run Again. is written on a sheet torn out

The latter, seeing how sensitive the

market is nowadays, and how inclined of a library book, or on whitey

racing men are to follow what is done by brown, with a scrap of pencil layers who have the reputation of living picked up and cautiously se- out of stiff 'uns, kept his place in a way creted, or a piece provided by

that can only be regarded as miraculous.

-Referee. an officer in connivance. “You've got a 'new chum' in your

There are two bookmakers party?”

in Melbourne nicknamed “the “Yes; he's got a fiver. He is a draper, Undertakers,” because of their from Leicester. He says you used to be fondness for laying against stif his lawyer.” “Ask him to write me particulars of his

'uns, which, in this case, means case.”

horses that are certain not to “Oh, yes; I'll swag it in. I have a run. piece of 'cedar' which I'll lend him to write the stiff.”—Evening News.

Stilting (thieves), synonymous (Popular), a stiff, a corpse.

with “high flying,” explained I've been terribly scared myself. I re- by quotation. collect one night, something like this, I “Don't say another word,” said he : had gone out about eleven o'clock to get'"am I anything in the police, indeed ! the stiff of a man who had died of con- You are a nice sort of chap to try your sumption.-Globe Democrat.

hand at stilting!” (first-class pocket-pick

ing). “Why, what d'yer mean by it? Stiff-fencer (streets), a street seller

How long have you been about?”—The

Little Ragamuffins. of notepaper. Vide STIFF.

Stilton (common), that's the StilStiff for (sporting Australian), cer.

ton, a rendering of “that's the tain for. The metaphor here is

cheese." something that cannot be diverted (or averted). After the Stinger (common), a hard blow. Melbourne Derby and Cup of 1880, Grand Flaneur was con

Stingo (popular), strong ale, ale. sidered stiff for every race for

... to prove his trust in native stingo which he was entered.

quaffed off a flagon of it. - Daily Tele

graph. Stiff on (tailors). Vide DEAD Stink cupboard, a cupboard in HORSE

a chemical laboratory through

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which a strong upward draught vincial for soft food, pottage, passes, and into which any evil. &c., of any kind. From stodge, smelling and noxious prepara thick, slimy mud. tion is placed during the process of its manufacture.

Stodger (common), a great eater,

gormandiser. (Charterhouse), Stinkious, gin; a word in use in

a penny bun. the early part of the eighteenth century.

Stodge, to (common), to gorge

oneself with food. Stinks (schools, &c.), chemistry,

a lecturer on physical science, Stolen ken (old cant), a broker's especially chemistry. When a

shop. Vide KEN. man took his degree in natural science, he used to be said at Stomp drawers (old cant),

Cambridge to "go out in stinks.” stockings. Stinky (army), a farrier or shoe

Stone broke or stoney (general), ing smith. Query so called from

term in very common use among the unpleasant smell of burning

men in the fashionable world hoof, &c., so often accompany

to express that they are in ing the fitting of new shoes to a

extreme financial difficulties and horse.

on the verge of bankruptcy, Stir (thieves), prison. Abbrevia if not already bankrupts. Per

tion of “sturiben” (which see). haps derived from “stone

I was in Brummagem, and was seven breaking,” in that the solid days in the new stir.-Mayhew: London

mass of rock, broken up into Labour and the London Poor.

small fragments, and only useStock actor (theatrical), an ful for mending roads with,

artiste who is a regular member. is a decided come-down for a of a stock company.

granite rock. Probably a miner's Stock cards, to (cardsharpers),

phrase. Again, possibly from

the idea that a man's last re. to arrange cards for cheating

source is breaking stones in purposes.

the workhouse or on the road. Stock, long of, explained by Originally American. quotation.

At your mute call the people flock, Long of stock is an American term for a The banker for his pounds pawns stock; holder of securities who anticipates ability The widow for the mite pawns frock; to sell at a higher price than that at which The milkmaid sweet, she pawns a crock; he purchased.–St. James's Gazette. All stoney broke-with not a “rock," Stodge (Charterhouse), the in

Ye three brass balls.

-Detroit Free Press. side of a roll or the crumb of new bread.

We shall see scores of punters who went (Popular and

stoney over Manchester working away at thieves), food. Stodge is pro Croydon this afternoon.-Evening News.

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Stone-jug, the, originally New. Stop, on the (thieves), explained

gate Prison. Now any prison. by quotation. In a box of the stone-jug I was born.

You have heard of working on the stop, -Ainsworth: Terry Tuniber's Chant. most likely, which means picking pockets

when the party is standing still.-- Temple “ The elders of the Kirk in Bar. Glasgow used of old to go out of church and make a sweep

Stop-lay. Two or more wellround for absentees and idlers,

dressed pickpockets promenade who on Monday were placed in

singly, until they select a person the stocks or pillory, which

that will answer their purpose. being called (from the Latin

One then inquires of him the

direction to a place somewhat jugum, a yoke), the jougs, the treatment was styled 'clapping

distant. On being told, he prethem in the jougs,' hence stone

tends not to understand his jougs or jug. Parish jugs in

informant, who, becoming inteScotland consisted of an iron

rested in his desire to be excollar fastened by a chain and

plicit, draws closer to the inpadlock to one of the entrance

quirer. At this instant one or piers of the churchyard gate.

both the others walk up, and in This was the iron jug, and a

an instant the obliging man is prison in which the offender

relieved of a part of his property. is confined bodily becomes, by

This is called the stop-lay. an easy association of ideas,

Stormen (society), a hot member the stone-jug.” “It is remark

of society, a man who is exable that the use of the phrase

tremely proficient at anything, stone-jug, for prison, finds a

a lady who is fast and peculiar parallel in Greek. The Scho

in ways and language; the liast on the Iliad, on the word

origin of the word is a storm Keramos, gives the meaning, ..

which bears down everything a prison, as a Cyprian usage"

before it.
(Notes and Queries). Grose calls
it a “stone doublet."

Stotor (old cant), a heavy blow,

Dutch stoat, a blow, thrust, or Stone-fence (common), brandy push. “Het schip stiet op en

and ale. A variation of “breaky onder schip "_" The ship fell leg.”

foul upon another ship.” Stook (thieves), pocket-handker- Stouts (Stock Exchange), Arthur

chief. Probably Yiddish, from Guinness, Son & Co. Shares.
the German stuck, a piece. Stook-
hauler, a pickpocket who steals

Stove-pipe (popular), a silk hat. pocket-handkerchiefs.

French “tuyau de poële.”

A big white fur stove-pipe hat on the Stoop, the (old cant), the pillory. back of his head.—Huckeberry Finn.

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Stow that kid, stop that nonsense, humbug. I am a Devonshire clergyman's daughter, and just left my home with an officer oh, stow that kid. Here's half a dollar, which is precious near the last. Sporting Times.

To stow, not to talk about. You maunders all stow what you stall, To rum coves what so quire.

-Song: Clear Out, Look Sharp.

Stow magging, stow your whids, stow your gab, hold your

tongue. “Oh! stow your gab, now, old 'un, do;

Oh! stow your gab,” said she; “And, though it's nowt to do wi' you, I'll tell what's ailin' me."

-Scraps. (Nautical), to stow one's jawing tackle, to hold one's tongue.

But 'tain't for a British seaman to brag, so I'll just stow my jawin' tackle and belay.-Gilbert: Ruddigore.

To stow comes from old Eng. lish stewen, to restrain; akin to stay, stop, stand. Compare Shetland stow! hush! silence!

Straight (American). In the

United States a straight drink means one of unmixed spirits, e.g., whisky straight is the same as neat. But Mr. Hotten is quite wrong in saying that it is peculiar to dram-drinkers. It is used in many strange ways. Thus, if cigars are labelled, “ Ten cents apiece, straight,” it means that no deduction will be made for buying a number of them. To vote the straight ticket at an election is to do so without scratching, that is to say, without taking off the name of any candidate and substituting another.

In molasses, mixtures are relatively
cheaper than straight goods.- New York
Price Current.
But refusing to take e'en a moment of rest,

He exceedingly rapidly fell,
By dint of disposing of glass after glass,

Into that Bacchanalian state,
Into which you will almost be certain to

pass If you go in for taking Scotch straight.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Straddle, spread (American). a.

Stock Exchange term for “options."

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each a word meaning both straight and correct. Straight tip originally meant correct information as to what horse would win a race, but is used slangily for “good advice" or “correct information about any. thing."

He was a real good fellow, and would give them the straight tip.-A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Australia.

Strain your taters, to (common),

to urinate. The play is on kidney potatoes. Also “ to scatter."

Straighten the screw, to (thieves),

to bribe the jailer.

I've knowed what it was to go starvin on skilly and toke for a month, and then 'ave a cold mutton chop, as was sent in by a pal as 'ad straightened the screw, shoved in through my trap.--Sporting Times. Straight griffin, the (popular),

“the straight tip,” or hint. The Old Temple Bar was to London a cuss, But I think the new griffin's a jolly sight

worse,
Our sage city-fathers grandmothers appear
To raise such a griffin, at which people jeer,
Now here's the straight griffin-it won't

long be here.
-Ballad: Oh lor, oh lor, oh dear.

In explanation of this verse it may be said that Old Temple Bar was removed because it was considered ugly by all who regard everything ugly which is not brand-new, but chiefly because it was in the way. A monument, representing a griffin, was raised on its site, to commemorate it—which monument is quite as much in the way as " the Bar” ever was, and, in the opinion of everybody, except perhaps its manufacturer, twice as ugly.

Strap (popular), credit at a pub

lic-house or other place where drink is retailed. The word is common among small dealers, but has not yet extended to the classes immediately above them. I was once told by a brassfounder that out of thirty-six men in the factory where he was employed no fewer than thirty-two were on the books of a public-house to which the men regularly resorted, as there they could get strap, i.e., credit. - Daily Telegraph. I've tried to get fried fish on strap,

But found it was no use,
For when I said she was a duck,
She said I was a goose.
-T. W. Barrett: Blow Me up

an Apple-Tree.
Strap is a Yorkshire term.
The idea is probably that of
a man in debt, metaphorically
bound by a strap or tightening
his belt as if hungry. The
French use the term serré
for needy. (American), hard
strapped, in great trouble, much
distressed for money. Vide
BLACK-STRAP.

Straight racket, on the (thieves),

leading an honest life.

Plenty of cases might be cited where wrong 'uns who were wanted went to a chief of police, demanded truce on promise of amendment, and most scrupulously observed the conditions of the treaty. “Will you leave me alone if I take on the straight racket?" is a question often answered in the affirmative.—Referee.

Straight tip (racing), straight is

probably only a slang form of “right.” Latin and Greek have

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Straw boots (army), the 7th

Dragoon Guards. A nickname
gained during the suppression
of agricultural riots in the South
of England. Called also " Black
Horse,” and “ Virgin Mary's

Bodyguard.”
Strawer (public schools), straw

hat.
Strawing (patterers), explained
by quotation.

Strawing, or selling straws in the street, and giving away with them something that is really or fictionally forbidden to be sold, as indecent papers, political songs and the like. -London Labour and the London Poor. Straw, in the, to describe a

woman in childbed. “Halliwell and Wright give the expression as an archaism, but without instances of its use. It is not found in the older phraseological dictionary. Hotten derives it from the uses of the farmyard, Webster from the supposed practice of making beds of straw. The more probable derivation is that given from the practice of laying down straw before a house in which a lady is confined. I believed that the expression was only applied to persons of condition. I am reminded of a characteristic witticism uttered by a celebrated judge, many years ago, in connection with this practice. He was on circuit, and going in state with the high sheriff to the court. house, the street in front and round the court was found covered with straw. Some

curiosity was expressed by the sheriff to know why this was done. The learned judge said he supposed it was on account of the gaol delivery" (G. B. B.,

Notes and Queries). Streaked, streaky. Bartlett gives

this as American: “To feel streaked, is to feel confused, alarmed;" Hotten as English slang for irritated or ill-tempered, and derives it from its being “said of a short-tempered man who has his good or bad times in streaks." The Dutch say, “Daar loopt met hem een streek door," i.e., a streak runs through him, which Sewell translates as, “He has a weak

place in his head.” Streaks, to make (American), to

decamp; also "make tracks,” Street ganger (thieves), a

beggar. Street pitchers (popular), any of

the class of people who make a "pitch” or stand in the streets to sell articles or give an 'entertainment or performance of some kind.

Stretch (thieves), a year. Com

pare with "length” (six months' imprisonment).

I did not fall again for a stretch. This time I got two moon for assaulting the reelers when canon. - Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

“All right, Sam." "How much, Toby?" “Three stretch,” by which the sympathetic Sam knows his friend means "three years." -Greenwood: Under-currents of London Life.

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ing a bargain; from the old custom of striking hands and leaving a luck or earnest coin in that of the seller, formerly termed God's penny. In France, when letting apartments or a house, it is customary to give the concierge a silver or gold coin as denier à Dieu.

One of them called out, “We may get a stretch (twelve months) for it,” and another replied, “No, we can't, for loiter. ing." One then called out, “ We may get 'a drag'(three months), after the remand.” -Daily Telegraph.

(University) a walk. Stretched (thieves), hanged.

The night before Larry was stretched,
The boys they all paid him a visit.

-Death of Socrates. Stretcher (common), a falsehood.

He's told some stretchers, I reckon, and I said I wouldn't swallow it all. -Huckleberry Finn. Stretcher fencer (streets), a street

seller of braces. Stretch-hemp (common), a candi

date for the gallows. Stretching match (thieves), an

execution by hanging.

A long, an audible breath of relief passes like a wave over the crowd. They look at one another. After all, Billy would be saved his stretching match, and the girl would die game.—Savage London. Strides (theatrical), trousers. Strike a bright, to (popular), to

have a piece of good fortune. Strike a jigger, to (thieves), to

break open a door, or pick a lock. Strike a light, to (popular), to

open an account of the minor sort, generally applied to alehouse scores. This is said to have originated with printers.

Strike oil, to. A metaphor bor

rowed from an American phrase, to come upon, discover oil. Hence to be very lucky, to hit upon a fortune.

Dr. Stanford has undoubtedly struck oil with this novel adaptation of our national melodies.- London Figaro. Strike, to (old cant), to steal

money.

The cutting a pocket, or picking a purse, is called striking.-Greene : Art of Coneycatching

(American), to borrow or extort money. From provincial to strike, to tap a barrel. Compare with French slang taper.

I may strike you for $10 next week. — The Judge.

To find. I said, “Don't do nothing of the kind; it's one of the most jackass ideas I ever struck."--Huckleberry Finn.

To strike it rich (American), to find a rich vein.

To increase the unfounded enmity against the boy-miner, and give it such basis as envy would rate enough, he found a vein, struck it rich, as the saying goes. -H. L. Williams: Buffalo Bill. Strikers (American), persons who

in politics and elections simply
in politics and electio
aim at personal profit.

Strike me blind (nautical), rice.

Strike me lucky! (popular), an

exclamation used when conclud.

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My dear boy, you do not understand these matters yet. The mugwumps do not form a party or nominate a ticket. They sit in judgment on the other fellows. They are not political strikers. They are political kickers. They want no offices for themselves, but they demand the best services for the State.-Boston Herald.

Strippers (gambling cheats), ex

plained by quotation.

Strippers were also great favouritesthat is to say, packs in which the high cards were a little wider than the rest, and cut slightly wedge shape, so that they could be drawn out at will. --Star. Struck all of a heap (popular),

astounded.

For a second he stood struck all of a heap, as he explained to his wife afterwards. Then he burst into a roar of laughter. - George R. Sims: The Doll's Secret.

Stringer (cricket), a very hard

ball to play, one that puzzles the batsman. Possibly alluding to a ball that comes in direct on the stringed handle of the bat, consequently one hard to

play. String, to (printers), to mislead,

or put one on the wrong scent; to hoax a person would be to string him, i.e., to lead him. (Provincial), to get in a string, to deceive. (Billiards), players string at the commencement of the game for choice of balls and option of breaking, by playing both together from the two corner spots in the D. They play to hit the top cushion, and rebound back into baulk. The winner is he who gets his ba!l nearest to the bottom cushion when the balls have come to a rest. To string is therefore to play up and down the table, literally to put on a line (as to string beads). A common expression in America is “ to get in a string,” applied to any kind of fortunate series. The French have the slang term “se faire enfiler" (literally to get strung or stringed), meaning to have an unlucky series at cards, hence to lose much money.

Strummel (old cant), straw.
Gypsy strammel.

The bantling's born; the doxy's in the strummel, laid by an autumn (autem) mort of their own crew that served for midwife.- Broome : Jovial Crew.

Hair, called also “ thatch.” With my strummel faked in the newest twig.

-Ainsworth: Rookwood. Strummel or strummel faker Strummel or strumm

(cant), a hairdresser, barber. Stubble your whids (thieves), hold your tongue.

Stubble your whids,

You wants to trick I.
Lend you my quids?
Not one, by Dickey.

-Lytton: Paul Clifford.
Stuck, to be (popular), to be
moneyless. Vide STICK, TO
STICK. (American), to be at a
disadvantage, to lose in trade,
to lose by miscalculation.
We're the only Eastern folks in the
Yonkville Stock, unless Mr. Sloper will
take a few shares-and, of course, any.

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body else may be stuck, and be darned.Mace Sloper, by C. G. Leland: Knicker. bocker Magazine, March 1856 (cited by J. R. Bartlett). Stuckling (Winchester College),

explained by quotation.

Stuckling was a kind of flat pastry made of chopped apples and currants. And the speciality of it was that the apples must be that year's apples. They used to be sent up from Devonshire or Cornwall, and sometimes were with difficulty obtained.-T. A. Trollope: What I Remember. Stuck on it (American), fond of,

addicted to. To get stuck on a girl, to fall in love with her. Spring's the best time to buy stock. Turn 'em on to your range when the grass is green, and there's plenty of it; they get stuck on it then, and stop there you don't have no trouble locating them.-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

lish “dummy,” meaning both “dumb” and “sham.” My collection of writs, pawn-tickets, unreceipted bills, stumers, letters from tarts, unpublished operas, and correspondence.-Sporting Times. Stump (old cant), strength.

Now my kinching-cove is gone,
By the rum-pad maundette none;
Quarrons both for stump and bone,
Like any clapperdogeun.

-The Rum-Morts' Song:

Stumped (common), defeated in

argument, nonplussed, puzzled,

confused. Literally bowled out. To be all “abroad,” to be stumped, not to

know where Togo, so disgraced as not to be "placed," Or, as Crocky would say to Jem Bland, "to be nowhere."

-Ingoldsby Legends. Also bankrupt, in poverty. Stumper (cricket), wicket-keeper.

Since then he has enjoyed the reputation of being one of the finest stumpers that England has ever produced. -Sportsтап.

Stuff (American), a stuff, a weak,

worthless person, one without energy. In low slang used for an honest, respectable citizen. (Common), drink, money. Has she got the stuff? Is she rich ?Sheridan: The Rivals.

(Prison), tobacco. When was I at the steel? Had I got any stuff? That screw was all right. He would sling some stuff for a quid.-Evening News. Stuff-gownsman (legal), a junior

or barrister under the degree of · Queen's Counsel is so called.

Stump, on the (common), or to

stump, to go about speechmaking on politics or other subject. Originally American, alluding to an orator who harangues the populace from the stump of a tree or other elevation. The temptation, in short, would be far too

severe, and would, too, so often pre

vail, That members, as 'tis far too much on the

stump, would be always henceforth on the rail.”

- London Figaro. Stumps (common), the legs,

synonymous with "pins.”

Stuggy (public schools), thick

set. Stumer (London slang), a ficti

tious or dishonoured cheque. From German stumm, stumme, dumb, in imitation of the Eng

Stump-spouter-Sturiben.

305

See-see-the fine fellow grows weak on
the stumps.-Lytton : Paul Clifford.

“Shove on more coke !” yelled the
engine-driver. “Shovel it up, shovel it
up, you butter-fingered bungler! Move
your stumps, I say, or I'll help you !” and
he did, with a heavy boot.-C. H. Ross:
The Husband's Boat.
Stump-spouter (Canadian), an

itinerant “orator."

They were downright Tories—thought most things would grow better and stronger in the long run for being let alone a bit. If a constitution was to grow up strong, it didn't want forcing with a lot of stumpspouter's rubbish, and so on, and so on.Phillipps-Wolley : Trottings of a Tenderfoot. Stump, to (common), to defeat,

literally bowl out. He was determined, he said, to stump the examiners.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

(Popular), to pay, or stump up. Why don't you ask your old governor to stump up?--Sketches by Boz. Only a pound ! it's only the price Of hearing a concert once or twice, But common prudence would bid you stump it.

-Hood: Tale of a Trumpet. Why didn't he stump up the ochre ? -Punch.

Also to stump the pewter. For derivation vide STUMPY. Stumpy (popular), cash, coin,

money.

Reduced to despair, they ransomed themselves . . . till they was reg'larly done over and forked the stumpy.Sketches by Boz.

Down with the stumpy; a tizzy for a pot of half-and-half.-C. Kingsley: Alton Locke.

Stumpy is that which is paid on a stump, synonymous with VOL. II.

"paid on the nail.” “In the centre of Limerick Exchange," says O'Keefe, “is a pillar with a circular plate of copper about three feet in diameter, called the nail. On this metal desk the earnest of all Stock Exchange bargains has to be paid.” A similar custom prevailed at Bristol, where were four pillars called nails in front of the

Exchange for a similar purpose. Stunner (common), splendid, ex

cellent, quite out of the way; applied to a person or thing. Who's the buyer of coat? Here's a stunner for three-and-six, half-a-crown, two bob, anything.-). Greenwood: LowLife Deeps.

(Popular), a surpriser.
A six-and-thirty tonner
Not inaptly called a stunner,
And known as the Woolwich Infant.

-Punch. Stunning (common), astonishing,

excellent.

You were justly reproved. The word stunning is decidedly slang.-Household Words.

She certainly was a stunning girl. -
Punch.
Stun out of the regulars (thieves),

to stun a man out of his regulars,
is to cheat him out of his rights,
deprive him of his share in the

plunder.
Sturiben (thieves). In America

sturbin. In England any prison,
in America the State-prison.
The common canting stir or
stur is an abbreviation of this.
It is a pure gypsy word, from
the root star-ava. Correctly

306

Sub-Suck.

staripen in gypsy. Stardo in
gypsy means “imprisoned.”
My mush is lelled to sturiben,
To sturiben, to sturibon,
My mush is lelled to sturibon,
To the tan where mandy jins.

-Gypsy Song. Sub (popular), to do a sub is to

borrow money, probably an abbreviation of subtraction. Also a small advance of pay in this sense from subsidy or sub

sistence. (Anglo-Indian), all. Suck (common), a swindle. (Uni

versity), a parasite. (Old cant), beer, a breast-pocket.

Suck-casa (costermongers and

itinerants), a public-house.

Suck egg (popular), a silly person.

“Go along, you suck egg.”

I suppose you're a young barrister, a sucking lawyer.—Thackeray: The Newcomes.

Also a sponger, a sycophant, same as English suck. A person who ingratiates himself into the favour of the landlord of a large hotel, praises or puffs the establishment in the newspapers and makes himself agreeable to the guests, does odd jobs for his patron, and lives rent-free and board-free at his expense. The same sort of person was once called a sponger in England, and a sorner in Scotland, though both were confined to private practitioners, and un

known to hotel-keepers.
• Sam ... you're a nigger, but thar's
more real white man under your black skin
than could be found in an acre of such
varmints as that sucker.-Americans at
Home.
Suck in, to (common), to cheat,

swindle.
I up wid a rock and I hit him on de shin,
And dat's de way I sucked him in.

-Negro Song:
Sucking the monkey. Vide Mon-

KEY. To which add, sailors thus call a cocoanut on account of the three peculiar spots which give it a striking resemblance to

a monkey's countenance. Suck, to (American University),

to make use of cribs and helps to translation. (Common), to sponge, draw information from a person. (Society), to suck up to, to toady, flatter, make up to. This word has been borrowed by society from schoolboy slang.

Sucker (American), a greenhorn,

a gullible person, a dupe. A term much used by thieves and gambling cheats. Such men always take it for granted that an Englishman is a sucker. It is as well to foster the belief, for the amusement of hearing them ingeniously unfold their magnificent schemes. — F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin.

Perhaps I'd better buy land, waiting for a rise and a sucker, buy horses with de. fects, sellin' 'em for sound, buy shares of railroad stock, or mines, anything to beat some one else and get the better of them.Bird • Freedom.

From sucker, a fish which is a synonym for stapidity, or from sucking, young, new to. My enemy are but sucking criticks, who would fain be nibbling ere their teeth had come. -Dryden: All for Love.

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Sudden death (Anglo-Indian), a

fowl served as a spatch-cock (i.e., a split and grilled chicken). It was so called because it was often killed and cooked within half-an-hour. Sudden death, as food, recalls the German proverb,“Todist des Lebens Bothenbrod.” (Popular), in tossing, to be decided by the first call, is to go sudden death. (University), a crumpet. Vide SORE LEG.

Suds, in the (thieves), embar

rassed, nonplussed, at a loss to know what course to take.

Suit (thieves), a watch and seals.

Near to these hopeful youths sat a fence, or receiver, bargaining with a clouter, or pickpocket, for a suit, or, to speak in more intelligible language, a watch and seals. -W. H. Ainsworth: Jack Sheppard.

(Popular), suit of mourning, a pair of black eyes. (American), Whiskers or moustachios, as being a pair or a match, are often in the United States called a suit. Hence a head of hair has received the same name. “A full-blown suit of whiskers and moustachios, with head to match.” Very naturally derived from suite as a series, a suit at cards, a suite of rooms, a suit of cards, suite being frequently pronounced suit.

Suety Isaac (popular), a pud.

ding of only duff, and without plums.

Sugar (common), money. (Ame

rican), flattery, praise, gammon.

Sukey (servant-girls), a kettle.

A servant-girl is frequently addressed as Sukey by the lower classes.

Sugar-bag (Australian black

fellows), a nest of honey; also “chewgah bag.” This is the name the blackfellows give to the honey-stores of the wild bee, of which they are inordinately fond.

The regular sharp chop-chop of the tomahawk could be heard here and there where some of them had discovered a sugar-bag, or a 'possum on a tree.-A. C. Grant: Bush Life in Queensland.

Sulky (common), a one - horse

chaise, with only room for one person. Used now only in

trotting matches. Summer game (American gam

blers), playing merely for amusement or benefit of another person, but with his money.

Sugar off, to (American), to amount to, used when speaking of a large fortune. Josh Billings comes of a wealthy family, Shaws of Lanesborough in Massachusetts, and it is estimated that his estate would sugar off, as they say in Vermont, about $200,000. —Harper's Bazaar.

Sumpsy (legal), an action of

assumpsit. Sumpsy is a pet word among lawyers for an action of assumpsit.-Morning Advertiser.

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Sun (common), in the sun, hav

ing too much drink. (Naval), “ getting the sun over the foreyard,” taking a forenoon cup of grog at six bells, or eleven

o'clock. Sunday - face (popular), the be

hind. Sunday-man (low), the lover of a

street girl, her bully. Formerly a man in debt, who went out on Sundays only, for fear of the

bailiffs. Sun dog (nautical), the name

given to the phantasmic mirage of a mock sun shining near the real sun-a phenomenon observed in some latitudes.

Sundowner (Australian), a tramp.

The Australian shepherd, like the sun. downer, is almost a thing of the past.The Graphic.

Vide OVERLAND MAN.

of the historical, the melodramatic, or the operatic theatre as the actor or the vocalist. The super is the valiant soldier, the faithful follower, the grotesque retainer of the pantomime. He it is who seizes the hero, and loads him with chains, and drags him to the deepest dungeon beneath the castle moat; or presently leads him to storm the castle, to cut off the giant's head, or the dragon's tail, and anon quaffs his health from a gorgeous empty goblet of papier måché what time he comes crowned with triumphant laurels to rescue the lady of his love, to marry her, and to live happy ever after. He it is who carries the “wood of Birnam” on his shoulders to “high Dunsinian Hill,” who patiently bears “the blows and buffets of outrageous fortune” at the hands of that rascal Joseph Rumbuster, the clown. The super's work begins with the rehearsal, and ends with the performance, and he keeps the wolf from the door (though God knows how he does it !) at eighteenpence or half-a-crown a night. Amongst the supers you will find the idle, the dissolute, and the drunken; but amongst them you shall also find the modest, the gentle, the industrious—the broken gentleman, the disbanded soldier, the disappointed author, the ruined tradesman, bearing their fallen fortunes with equanimity. Most of these poor fellows are unpretentious, uncomplaining; and

Sunshades (Stock Exchange),

Sunehales Extension of the
Buenos Ayres and Rosario Rail-

way Company Shares. Super (theatrical), supers, or

supernumeraries. In the dictionaries a supernumerary is described as "a person or thing beyond the number stated, or beyond what is necessary.” If this description be accurate, then the word supernumerary is utterly inappropriate to describe the humble but valuable auxiliary popularly known by the name of super. The super is as essential to the business

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Curly Johnson, the super, despised him,

and never neglected a chance, To annoy and degrade the poor wretch, who replied with not even a glance.

-New South Wales Paper.

very few are unwilling, or unintelligent. Upon all important occasions, by special permission, detachments from Household troops, the Grenadiers, the Coldstreams, and the Guards officiate as supers. During the run of Henry V., at the Queen's Theatre, the actor who played the king had the honour of having amongst his body-guard four stalwart six-footers for his squires, gallant gentlemen who, although reduced to the ranks from adverse circumstances, had all held commissions in Her Majesty's service, and fought in famous battles. He is only an amateur supe, who goes on in the “angry populace” scenes. — Greenroom Jokes.

At the Philadelphia Academy of Music, at the close of the performance, the supers and ballet - girls demanded their wages, but they were not forthcoming.-Boston Journal.

Super master (theatrical), the

superintendent of the supers at

a theatre. Supers (medical), explained by

quotation. Dr. Oliver Birnie's consulting-room was generally pretty full in the morning, and always with paying patients. He had long since passed the super stage of the profession. Lest any intelligent reader should be unacquainted with this phase of medical practice, let me explain that it is the custom when young doctors are anxious to work up a reputation for being fashionable, for them to engage a few supers, that is, to give advice gratis to a few selected persons, on condition that they come once or twice a week and help to make a crowd in the waiting-room.G. Sims: Rogues and Vagabonds.

(Thieves), watch. You must know where to dispose of a super.-Temple Bar.

(Thieves and popular), super and slang, watch and chain. Also used by itinerants, strol. lers, &c. &c. (Australian upcountry), the superintendent of a station or run. Colonial slang is addicted to abbreviations—e.g., prof. for professor, comp. for compositor; and so uses super, not in its ordinary sense of supernumerary at a theatre, but in the sense of superintendent of a sheep or cattle station.

Super-screwing (thieves), steal

ing watches. Supplejacks (up-country Aus

tralian), creepers, lianas. The derivation is obviously from the toughness and pliancy of these lianas, which in Victoria are rare, but are commoner in the warmer parts of Australia and New Zealand.

Supplejacks, cyclopean, Binding huge tree to tree, with strength

of mesh No apic elephant could tear apart; While up the bank, in their spring glory

fresh, The blue lobelia with yellow heart, And waratah with flame-hued royal crown Proclaim the beauties round Australia's own.

-D. B. W. Sladen : A Poet

of Eriles.

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Supple twelfth (army), the 12th

Lancers.

Sura (Anglo-Indian), this is com

monly called toddy, the fer-
mented sap of several kinds of
palm, such as the cocoa, pal-
myra, and wild date. Sanskrit

sura, vinous liquor.
Surat (popular), an adulterated

article of inferior quality. From
the mixing of cotton with surat,

an inferior article.
Surf (theatrical), a fourth or fifth-

rate actor or musician who
blends some other daily occupa-
tion with his nightly employ-
ment at the theatre. (Popular),

surf, or serf, a sycophant.
Sut (tailors), satisfactory; said of

anything gratifying, fortunate.
Swab (naval), an epaulet.
Swack-up (common), a falsehood.
Swad (American), a crowd, a num-

ber, a mass, or bunch. Dutch
zwad, a swath, a row of mown
grass; swod (Sussex), a bushel
basket for measuring fish: a

swod of fish.
Swadder, swaddler (old cant), a

pedlar.
Swaddler. In America this term

is specially applied to men who
are paid by pickpockets to preach
in public places and collect a
crowd in which they may ply
their craft. In England any
street-preacher. In America
men who pick a quarrel with

a man and at the same time
beat and rob him. Originally
a contemptuous term for Metho-
dists used by Roman Catholics.
“It happened that Cennick,
preaching on Christmas Day,
took for his text these words
from St. Luke's Gospel, “And
this shall be a sign unto you;
ye shall find the babe wrapped
in swaddling-clothes, lying in a
manger.” A Catholic who was
present, and to whom the lan-
guage of Scripture was a no-
velty, thought this so ridiculous
that he called the preacher a
swaddler in derision (Southey,
“Life of Wesley'). In old
cant a swaddler was a pedlar.
Hotten gives the definition “a
Roman Catholic who pretends

conversion.”
Swaddy (popular), an opprobrious

name for a soldier ; in old cant swad, swadkin. Swad is a Lancashire term, thought to be from pea-swad, used by old writers for a silly fellow, a country

bumpkin.
Did sweare that he would kill and slay,

I, mary, would he doe,
If any swad besides himselfe faire madam

owle did wowe.
-Warner: Albion's England, 1592.

Again, it is possible that it owes its origin to the cant term swadder, a pedlar, alluding to the soldiers tramping about with a knapsack like a pedlar's pack, or to the provincial swad,

a sword. Swag (old cant), a shop.

(Costers), a large collection of

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I mean brushes, combs, &c., as if, later on, he wishes to travel on horseback, he will find how little can be squeezed into a swag:-Cornhill Magazine: With a Cockatoo

Swagman (Australian), a tramp,

a travelling artisan. Swag, bundle. The bond-fide travelling artisan is properly the swagman, but the word is often used as equivalent to a sun-downer, i.e., a tramp. In old cant swigman, a tramp, a mendicant bearing a

wallet, a pedlar. Swag-chovey bloke (thieves), a marine-store dealer who buys stolen goods.

miscellaneous goods. Hence swag-shop (also termed a swag), swag-barrow. (Thieves), booty, plunder. Swag-shop, a receiver's place, also swag-chovey.

“It's all arranged about bringing off the swag, is it?" asked the Jew.-C. Dickens: Oliver Twist. 'Twas awful to hear, as she went along, The dark allusion, or bolder brag Of the dexterous dodge, and the lots of swag.

-Hood: Tale of a Trumpet. “We must do it to-night, Poss,” said the elder, soon after dusk. “The swag's all in jewels, and a grab'll collar the lot.”— G. R. Sims: Rogues and Vagabonds.

A mess of sausages may apprise a remanded dog-stealer, “it is all right; the animal is dead, and his body effectually disposed of;” “toad in the hole" may convey to a suspected burglar the glad tidings that the hidden swag has not at present been discovered.). Greenwood: Undercurrents of London Life.

Speak to the tattler, bag the swag,
And finely hunt the dummy.
-C. Hindley: Life and Times of

James Catnach.
Swag is provincial for a
quantity or lot, a portion of pro-
perty. Scottish swag or swack,
from old German sweig, a flock.
The Australian swagman, i.e., tra-
velling artisan or journeyman,
“humps his swag,” i.e., carries
his tools and luggage in a bundle

on his back. I feel in the race of life of late, I've been handicapped badly by careless

fate, Who has put on my back a swag.

-Keighley Goodchild: Through

the Fence.

Swaggering Bob (theatrical), an impudent buffoon.

'Tis the miserable art Of the vile buffoon, who to please the pit, Provokes its laughter, but lets down his

part, Winks at his audience while he slaps his

fob, And turns Charles Surface into Swagger. ing Bob! -Lord Lytton (the present):

Glenaveril. Swagsman (thieves), an accom

plice who takes charge of the

plunder. Swag, to (thieves), originally to

carry off as plunder, but extended to carrying off anything.

The next witness is a policeman, who deposes that he was in a public-house, where he overheard the prisoner say that he had had a good haul, and got over a hundred ounces of plate, which he swagged away.-Evening News.

By arrangement they each undertook to swag out their literary treasures, so that each man would only have the statu.

Also a small valise. I would advise anybody to take as little as possible in the way of articles of toilet,

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Den Brer Fox know dat he been swap off mighty bad. — Uncle Remus.

That was the time that you got swapt, And looked so awfully wambler-cropt.

-A Poem: Simon Barky. Swartwout (American), a verb of

local (New York) origin or usage, signifying “to abscond,” “to vamoose,” “to skip.” A Mr. Swartwout once decamped from that city, carrying with him a large amount of public money -hence its origin.

Swankey (West-Indian), a beverage compounded of molasses, vinegar, and water—a favourite drink with fishermen. This term has now become common throughout the States and the Dominion. “Roll along here,” shouted the cook. “Tumble up, and get your swankey, boys. It's as good as ever you cocked a lip at.” And at the word each man, his face glowing with excitement and exercise, took his turn at the swankey pail.-Newfoundland Fisheries.

Swank, to (public and military

schools), to work hard; old English swinke, to labour ; swinked or swenkt, tired with work.

The swenkt grinders in this treadmill of an earth have ground out another day.Carlyle. Swan-slinger (theatrical), a

slinger of “the sweet Swan of Avon,"otherwise a Shakspearian actor.

Swat (Royal Military Academy),

i.e., sweat, work in general, but

especially mathematics. Swatchel (Punch show), Punch.

Also the show. Swatchel box, the show itself; swatchel cove, the showman. Swatchel is provincial for “to beat with a switch.” Hence probably the nickname given to Mr. Punch, whose principal occupation is plying his stick.

The various slang names used by the Punch and Judy showmen are—“Mozzy" for Judy; “darkey,” the negro;“ vampo," a clown; “vampire," a ghost; "buffer figure," dog owner; “scrappers," fighting men; “crocodile," a demon; “filio," a baby ; “buffer,” a dog.

The “frame” is the entire machine ; “peepsies,” the pan pipes; the “nobbing slum,” the bag for collecting money; the “letter cloth,” the advertisement; “tambour,” the drum; “stalk or prop,” the gallows ; “slum fake," a coffin ; "slum,” the call.

Swap knives (American), “no

time to swap knives," in a moment.

But there warn't no time to swap knives, the old man grabbed me by the hand.Mark Twain. Swapped off (American), cheated,

taken in, done, “sold.”

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Finn.

Swat, to (University), to sweat, Sweat gallery (Winchester Colto work hard.

lege), the juniors who had to

do some “sweat” or fagging. Sweat (public schools), fagging.

Each prefect had a water-car(American), in a sweat, in a

rier, who brought him cold hurry, impatient.

water on Sunday; a clothes’Besides, he was in a sweat to get to

brusher, who had to brush his the Indian Ocean right off.-Huckleberry

clothes; a valet to bring him

bis books, and warm water in Sweat-box, the cell where pri

winter. soners are confined on arrest previous to being brought up Sweating (thieves), a primitive for examination before the ma way of scraping gold off coins gistrate.

by shaking them in a bag. An

other mode explained by quotaSweater (common), explained by

tion. quotation.

By far the most scientific form of smashAt the outset Mr. - is careful to ing is that which is called sweating--the distinguish between a contractor and a modern equivalent for the ruder art of sweater. Both are contractors, but the “clipping," so fully described in Macausweater is a contractor and something lay's History. Here the galvanic battery more. Both exact from

m

the workmen

the workmen is brought into requisition, the metal being under them a certain amount of work for dissolved equally from all the surfaces of a definite wage, but there the likeness the coin operated upon, and that, too, ends; for whilst the contractor pays an without impairing the sharpness of “image ordinary wage for an ordinary day's work, or superscription.” Sufficient metal for the sweater “exacts from men employed the sweater's purpose being removed, the by him and working under his immediate coin is polished afresh. - Thor Fredur: superintendence the performance of an ex- Sketches from Shady Places. cessive amount of work in return for an unreasonably low remuneration."-Even

(Schools), working. (Coming News

mon), extracting money from a The great sweater is the public; and as person, employing workpeople long as the public continues to encourage, at starvation wages. or rather to compel, the “unscrupulous employer" to use the over-stocked labour

In Bavaria, it appears from the reports market as he is using it now, so long will the

of the German factory inspectors, nearly existing evils endure.-Daily Telegraph.

sixty per cent. of the working classes work

from ten to eleven hours a day, and over (Boating), a thick woollen forty-nine per cent. work from eleven and jersey originally used in boat a quarter to sixteen hours daily. It is the

immigrants from countries like this who ing. (Stock Exchange), a broker

have made sweating possible.--Evening who cuts down commissions.

News. A broker who works for such

Sweating shops, establishments small commissions as to prevent

where this is practised. other brokers getting the business, whilst hardly being profit

It is the women and children from the

factories at the East End and the sweating able to himself (Atkin, “House

shops in the neighbourhood who are pourScraps").

ing in now. -Sims : Social Kaleidoscoje.

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Sweat one's duds, to (thieves),

to pawn one's clothes, that is,

extract money from them. They sweated their duds till they riz it.

-Death of Socrates. Sweat one's guts out, a vulgar

expression, meaning to work

very hard. Sweep the board, to (common),

to take all. (American), to scoop the pool. Games have introduced others as bandy and sweep the board.—Standard. Sweet (thieves), in thieves' slang,

an intended victim is sweet if he does not suspect the trick which is about to be practised on him. If he suspects, they try "to sweeten him” and “to keep him sweet” until their ob

ject is accomplished. Sweetener (auction), a man who

runs up prices at an auction. Sweetmeat (common), a very

young kept mistress, a precocious

votary of Venus. Sweet on (common), in love with. Swell (general), a showily dressed

pretender to extreme fashion.

This isn't the moment, when all swell. dom is at her feet, for me to come forward. -Thackeray: Newcomes. There were the swell and the snob.

-Punch. Swell ... seems to have the greatest amount of vitality; but it is unquestionably moribund. —Globe.

This word threatens to be superseded by its more modern synonym of masher and dude. Both swell and masher have had

many predecessors, some of which still linger in popular parlance, such as beau, dandy, brick, macaroni, Bond Street lounger, Mohawk, Corinthian, and bloke. Swell survives as an adjective in the sense of showy, brilliant, pretentious, as a swell carriage, a swell house, a swell waistcoat, a swell dress, a swell turn-out, a swell watch-chain, and many others.

Bullingdon Club is the most aristocratic and the swellest in Oxford. — Truth.

Swell is evidently from the act of being puffed up with pride. French slang se gonfler, to feel proud of some achievement, congratulate oneself. It is the exact equivalent in meaning of the Italian gonfione, synonymous with zerbinotto and damerino. It is also used of any one who is proficient in anything, who is high up or excels in his profession. Our distinguished admiral who bombarded Alexandria has the nickname of “swell of the ocean.”

There was a very large attendance of swells, including such magnates of the world of sports as the Dukes of Beaufort and Portland, &c.-- Sporting Times.

A swell at Eton is thus defined by T. R. Oliphant, author of “Eton College":—“It is very hard to define exactly what is meant by a swell at Eton; but it usually implies a boy who, brought into notice either by athletic prowess or scholarship, or high standing in the school, by this means becomes ac

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quainted with the leading mem- Swift (printers), a fast and expe. bers of the school, and is ditious setter of type; quoted found on acquaintance to de by Savage's Dictionary, 1841. velop considerable social quali

Swill, to (Shrewsbury), to take a ties, which make him hand and

shower-bath.
glove with all the Eton mag-
nates."

Swim (common), to be in the swim,

to be in the popular current Swell block (American Univer

either in opinion, speculation, sity), a coxcomb and dandy ;

or fashion, on the move with also those who assume and pre

the rest. To be one of an tend overmuch.

association, an affair. Swell head (American), a vain, “Look here," said the indignant gentlearrogant man, one who gives

man in the brown pot hat, “why wasn't himself airs. Also a man who

I in this swim?"

“What swim?” asked his Criterion is drunk, spirits in excess giving friends. the feeling as if the head were “Why, this 'ere fight?” heavy and swollen.

--Sporting Times. Swell-mob (common), well

One's particular pursuits. dressed, genteel sharpers and

But hus, Charlie, hus? I likes horder,

and likeways I'm partial to law, swindlers taken collectively.

Wen it means keeping my swim all clear, He is renowned for his acquaintance and a muzzling my henemy's jaw. with the swell-mob.-Charles Dickens. Wy, nothink could easy be nicerer, then, Swell mobsman (common), one

don'tcher see, dear old pal;

But supposing that game interferes with of the swell-mob (which see). my larks, or my lush, or my gal ?

--Punch. Swells (Winchester College), services on Sunday, saints' days,

(Angling), the section of water &c., when college men used to

one selects to fish in. (Thieves), wear surplices.

a good swim, a good run of

luck, a long time without police Swell, to (Winchester College), interference. to make a swell or mess; to

Swimmer (old cant), a guardship bathe, wash, &c.

on the river. A thief who, to Swelter, to do a (popular), to avoid conviction, consented to perspire.

be sent on board ship to serve Athletics ain't ’ardly my form, and a cut the king, was said to have been away coat and tight bags

swimmered. Are the species of togs for yours truly, and lick your loose flannels to rags,

Swimming market (Stock Ex6o I let them as liked do a swelter.

change), in other words, when -Punch.

the market is firm and buyers To swelter is an old English feel no hesitancy in operating; word used by Shakspeare.

the reverse of a “ sick market."

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Whether it be direct infrynging
An oath if I shed waive his swinging.

-Butler: Hudibras.
If I'm caught, I shall swing ; that's cer-
tain.-Sketches by Boz.
Swipe (popular), at cricket a

hard hit with full swing of the · bat. Also a blow. Provincial

English swipe, a blow.

“You might drag me to — if you liked, if you'd on’y let me get one fair swipe at him," growled Mr. Perks, sav. agely.-The Little Ragamuffins.

Swim, to (thieves), to make a man swim for it, is to cheat

him out of his share. Swindle. This word is used in

sporting circles to describe a speculation, or any dealing in which there is an element of chance. When a proposition is made to toss for a drink by spinning a coin, the phrase is generally “let's have a swindle."

Judge Pigott summed up in a case. “As to the second plea that swindle had not a libellous meaning, this was in a great measure carried out by the plaintiff himself, who had advertised that he was getting up a swindle. In sporting circles they certainly did deal with an extraordinary vocabulary, and apparently did not use this word swindle in Dr. Johnson's sense.”

In another case, Davey V. Walmsley, the following bit of evidence was tendered.

Mr. Hawkins—“Is the word swindle commonly applied to things like .specs.'”.

Witness (Mr. Paul Walmsley. Editor, Racing Investigator)— “Certainly! I never heard them called by any other name. It is a regular byword with us as a racing phrase. Lotteries are announced and commonly known as swindles." Swinger (Charterhouse), a box

on the ears. Swing-tail (old cant), a pig. Swing, to (common), to be

hanged.

Swipes (common), the cheapest
kind of beer-tap droppings.

We smoked our pipes,
With no such swipes,
When we were blithe and bold.

-Punch. At schools, beer good or bad is invariably termed swipes. Also tea or weak tea.

Tea! swipes! After all, miss, it's your way, and no doubt you don't know no better.-Golden Butterfly.

A swipe, properly an implement for drawing water for a brewery, hence probably swipes,

for weak beer. Swipe, to (American), to ap

propriate. Frequently said of actors or exhibitors who take the stage jokes of others, and pass them off for their own.

You can't copyright a gag, you know, and as soon as we get off anything good the other fellows swipe it and it's all over everywhere before we have time to get clear round.-Philadelphia Press. Swipey (popular), intoxicated.

From “swipes."
Swishing (Eton), explained by

quotation.

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Flogging, or, as it is called at Eton, swishing, is to be abolished at that aristocratic seminary. — Illustrated London News.

Swished, flogged. Swiss admiral (naval), a person who personates a naval digni. tary at a watering-place. The French have the derisive term amiral suisse for a naval officer who has never navigated, who is employed on terra firma, or for some suspicious individual who pretends to have held a

high rank in army or navy. Switch in, to (American), to

bring in expeditiously, to introduce with promptness, and execute with despatch. “Now's your time, boys ; switch in and let them have it!” ... Men were sent to cut out the Chicago, but being denied admittance to the cellar under the pavement went to work and broke through one of the manholes from the street, and were busily engaged switching in their own service when the Chicago Company's men ap. peared on the scene.---Chicago Tribune. Swivel eye (common), squinting

eye.

Young Arthur Orkintrooler, him with
the swivel eye and the pink wart on his
blushing brow.-Sporting Times.
Swizzle (common), drink.
Humph! you've turned a teetotaller now,

I suppose,
And should I sing "hey! ho! and a

bottle of rum,"
You'd not join in the song-or the swizzle ?

-Punch. Also swiz. No, percessions, dear boy, ain't my fad, But political picnics with fireworks, and plenty of swiz, ain't 'arf bad.

--Punch.

To swizzle is provincial for to drink, and swizzle is ale and beer mixed. (West Indian and Australia.) Mr. Finch-Hatton thus graphically describes a drink which is said to make a man wish he had a throat a mile long and a palate at every inch of it:

“Never having heard of a swizzle, which is a drink peculiar to Mackay, I believe, I watched his proceeding with interest. First of all he put two inches of Jamaica rum into the bottom of a tumbler, into which he shook a few drops of Angostura bitters from a bottle with a small hole in the cork. Next he added a small teaspoonful of brown sugar, and a squeeze of a lemon, and filled the tumbler two-thirds full of water. He then took a small stick with three prongs growing the reverse way up at the end, and whirled it round in the tumbler between his hands, with a dexterity only to be acquired by constant practice, till the de. coction was foaming to the top of the glass. Handing it to me quickly with directions to • drink it while fizzing,' he watched it going down, with one eye shut, and an expression of sympathetic interest on his face. “How's that for high ? ' he asked, as I set down the glass with a sigh of satisfaction.” In America swizzle is a mixture of rum, molasses, and water, and the Australian drink described above is nothing but the old American rum cock-tail.

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Swizzy, swizzle (nautical), grog.

The drink to be discovered in Dibdin's songs would make a sea large enough for several combined fleets of that age to have floated on. The sailor had nothing to do but to sing in all weathers, beat the French, and drink the swizzy.-W. Clark Russell. Swop (popular), to get the swop,

to be dismissed from one's employment. Especially used

among linendrapers' assistants. Swot (University and public

schools), explained by quota

A swot, one who works hard. At the Royal Military Academy swat or swot applies specially to mathematics. (Shrewsbury), in

a swot, in a rage. Sycher, zoucher (popular and

thieves), a contemptible person. “Sich” is provincial for a bad man.

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Sydney-sider (Australian), a con

vict. There never were any convicts sent to Victoria after its separation from New South Wales, while Sydney was originally a convict settlement. It was therefore natural to talk of a convict as being on the Sydney.

TAB, the (popular), the Taber

nacle of Mr. Spurgeon. Tabby party (common), a party

consisting entirely of women. Tabby is a colloquialism for an old maid or gossip. Tabs (tailors), the ears. Tack or sheet (nautical), a man's

saying that he will not start

tack or sheet, implies resolution. Tack or tackle (public schools), food; sometimes applied to drink. Vide HARD TACK. Hard tack is properly a large kind of hard crackers much used for

food on board ship. Tackle (old cant), a kept mistress.

(Thieves), a watch chain. Red tackle, a gold chain.

One day I went to Croydon and touched for a red toy and red tackle, with a large locket.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(Nautical), clothes. Tacky (printers), according to

printers' vocabulary, a roller is in good condition when it is tacky, that is, a little sticky to

the touch of the finger. Tad (American), originally pro

vincial English. In English, tad is an excrement (Wright). Hence in the United States, and perhaps in England, it was commonly applied contemptuously to the frequenters of brothels. It is now more widely extended. Bartlett gives little tads, small boys; provincial tadde, a toad, hence applied to

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Tailing (up-country Australian),

herding. Mustering now proceeded with steady vigour, and Desmard was allowed to gain experience in tailing those already brought in, along with two old and experienced hands, who were much amused with their companion's eccentricities, and who never tired of relating his peculiar sayings.-A. C. Grant. Tail-piece in the steel (thieves), Tail explained by quotation.

Their conversation, though not the most elegant, was least of all concerning the wretched trade they followed ; indeed, the subject was never mentioned at all, except in melancholy allusion to Peter or Jerry, who had been recently “copped," and was expected to pass a tail-piece in the steel (three months in prison).-J. Greenwood : Seven Curses of London.

any small person. The French have crapaud for a little boy; les crapauds, the children; old

tads, grey-bearded men.” Taffy (American), flattery, "soft

sawder," "soap," "gammon," persuasive and unctuous humbug. Tag (theatrical), explained by

quotation. And the tag is the end of the play-the last lines spoken, in rhyme or otherwisejust as this sentence is the end of this article.--Globe.

Also the end or catch word of an actor's cue. Tags, a species of improvised jokes (called by French actors “cascades "), allied to “tack.” Danish tak,

a supplement, appendix. Tail (common), to have one's tail

down, to be discouraged; to have one's tail out, to be angry; to get one's tail up, to pluck up spirits. Tail-block (nautical), a watch.

Properly a rope-stropped block, having an end of rope attached to it as a tail by which it may be fastened to any object. Tail-buzzer (thieves),a pickpocket who devotes his attention to the

pockets in the tails of a coat. Tailed, vide LONG-TAILED ONE.

A curious coincidence occurs in French cant. Tailbin is an accommodation bill, from old word talle, tail; and tailbin d'altèque, a bank note, d'altèque in this instance signifying superior, genuine.

Tail-pulling (publishers), a method

of publication explained by quotation,

It came out in evidence yesterday, in the case of Mackay v. M'Lean, that the publication of the literary productions of private individuals, who like to contemplate their own handiwork in print, is technically known among those who do it as tail-pulling. That seems an odd name to give it, because no animal we are acquainted with likes having its tail pulled ; unless it is on the principle of the little girl who “wagged the dog's tail to give it pleasure."--Globe.

Tai-pai (pidgin), a large ticket, a

great chop, first, slangily" boss.” Dey lock um up in littee house thlee day

till allo done, An' den Wang-ti come out tai-pai, first

chop, an' Numpa One. Tai-pan, typan (pidgin), literally

"great series,” i.e., the first of a series, a leader, a head-man, or “boss.”

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My typan must make fun of me,
When all his crowd can see-
Ah! well, perhaps they do not care
For a little clerk like me.

-China Punch. Tai-pay (pidgin), great-beer, i.e.,

porter (Canton). Take (printers), a synonym used by compositors to signify the portion of copy that falls to their share. A “ fat” take is

considered a good one. Take a figure (printers). This is

an appeal to the ballot instead of “ jeffing,” or “throwing" with the nine quadrats. To settle shares of good or bad work, or other matter, a man would select a number of figures, according to the number of men concerned, shake them up in his apron, and each individual would take a figure, the highest, or vice verså, as agreed on, having the

choice. Take a rise. Vide RISE. Take beef, to (thieves and popu

lar), to run away. Vide BEEF. Take down, to (thieves and popu

lar), to get the best of one, to deceive, humbug. Well, Governor, I think there is some credit due to me for taking you down. Any fool can do an ordinary swindle, but it is not any one who would attempt to take riown the Governor of a convict prison.Evening News. Take it in snuff. This old slang

phrase, which dates from a time long anterior to the supposed introduction of the tobacco plant into Europe by Sir Walter

Raleigh, occurs in plays of the Elizabethan and Shakspearian era. It does not appear to have originated in the habit of snufftaking, nor would the appositeness or appropriateness of the phrase have been palpably apparent if it had done so. Sniff, in its primary acceptation, means a movement of the nostrils, expressive either of annoyance or displeasure at a disagreeable smell, and by metaphorical extension a sign of scorn or anger at any person or thing that is offensive to either the moral or physical sense. It is curious to note how often the consonants sn are found as the initial sound of words that express anything disagreeable, and that are mani. fested by the action of the nose. Among others, sneeze, snore, sneer, snort, snarl, snigger, &c., all more or less suggestive of an

unpleasant meaning. Take it out of him (popular), thrash him well.

Take it out, to (popular), to

obtain value for expenditure,

labour, &c. Take my hat (American). In the

United States, when any man narrates a story which is so incredible or extravagant that the auditor must confess that he cannot outdo it, the latter often exclaims, “ Take my hat!” In a pamphlet entitled “ Three Thousand Miles in a Railway Car," the author tells us that in a jovial party of men they

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had a small hat which was ite, thus backing all the rest
made from a champagne cork, against a single horse.
and that when one of them

Take the rag off the bush, to
told the last best story the hat
was given to him, to be re-

(American), precision and exceltained until another told a

lence in action or thought. An

illustration drawn from the better, when it was handed

wild life of the Far West, when over to the latter. “Saw my leg off” was an equivalent or

at improvised shooting competi

tions the hunters and trappers synonym for the same phrase. When the story was remark

would hang a rag on a bush as

a target, and few of them would ably good it was usual to add “close."

miss lifting it. Taken on (turf), another term

Take the starch out, to (Ame

rican), to take the starch out of a for welshed.

man is to extinguish his conceit, The old man has been taken on to the

nerve, or pluck. It is widely extent of a fiver.-Bird o' Freedom.

applied to weakening, refuting, Take one's hook. Vide HOOK. or deterioration of any kind. She asked him to come in the house, The forthcoming Women's Bible will Then begged that he would stay

take more of the starch out of St. Paul, And take some tea along with her,

so to speak, in one edition, than the comAnd on the Indian drum play.

bined assaults of infidels have done in 1800 She told me I could take my hook,

years.-Chicago Tribune. And leave the place at once; I was no good-a chump of wood,

Take up a collection (American). In fact, a perfect dunce.

|--Song

This is often heard humorously

applied to any one who in an Takes the gloss off (tailors), it emergency, not being able to

takes away the profit, or materi do any good, nevertheless sug

ally detracts from its value. gests something which bas Take the biscuit, to, a variation

some shade or colour of a relaof "take the cake.” Vide CAKE

tion to the subject. Also to a

man who avails himself of the and BUN.

least excuse to raise money. It I think you will admit this fairly takes the biscuit for a detective story.--Sporting

is said that when some men Times.

were in a boat in a storm on

Lake Superior, and expected Take the cake, to. Vide CAKE.

every minute to go down, as Take the diploma (American), to

none of them knew a prayer or take the prize, take the cake, to

a hymn, they did the next best be pre-eminent.

thing they could as “a religious

exercise,” and took up a collection, Take the field, to (turf), to stake

The President's sole recommendation one's money against the favour with reference to the Civil-Service quesVOL. II.

X

322

Take-Tally.

tion, is that the salaries of the Civil Service
Commission be increased. We suspect
Mr. Cleveland of being the man who, in a
sinking boat where some religious services
were suggested, enthusiastically declared
himself in favour of taking up a collection.
-Philadelphia Press.
Take up one's connections, to

(American University), to leave

college. Taking the nap (theatrical),

making pretence to be struck, by slapping the hands together unseen by audience, à la clown and pantaloon. Vide KNAP, To. Taking the stage (theatrical),

assuming a commanding position in the centre of the stage, or crossing from the right hand side to the left, or vice versa. The movement with which a well-graced tragedian, in a burst of passionate emotion, dashes from one side of the stage to the other, or down to the footlights and up again. An almost exploded artifice, and one which requires an artist of great skill to accomplish with precision. Taking up one's bed (tailors),

leaving the shop for good. Talent, the (racing). The ring is,

in racing phraseology, the talent.

Common in Australia.
And sinks from view for ever, while the

talent
Declare they never saw a sight so gallant.

-New South Wales Paper. Talk a donkey's hind leg off, to

(American), to talk to no pur

New York papers to tell them what was
said nor what they wore.-The Golden
Butterfly.
Talking through one's neck
(Australian), talking foolishly.
A young lady, who had been
impressing the dangers of foot-
ball upon her small brother with
more ardour than discretion,
wound up with, “ If you were
my son I wouldn't let you go
to a boarding-school at all with-
out I had you safe home every
night,” which was met with a
contemptuous “Oh, you're talk-

ing through your neck.”
Talk, to (stable), said of a horse

that roars. (American), tall talk, explained by quotation.

The word cheek, as synonymous with conceit or impudence, is, notwithstanding its relative antiquity, still largely patronised by the lovers of argot; but were it not for the obliging correspondent of—if we mistake not -- the Daily Telegraph, tall talk, a Transatlantic phrase of appar. ently similar import and of undoubted originality, might never have been naturalised among us.—Belgravia.

The expression is now common in England. In quotation tall refers to an incredible story.

The new Enoch Arden story which has turned up at East Greenwich is certainly tall. It reminds one instinctively of the American tree so high that it took two men to look to the top, one beginning where the other left off, and forty men to believe the tale.—Daily Telegraph.

(Pedestrian), the term is applied to a great rate of speed. Tally (popular), to live tally is to

live as man and wife though not married. Hence a tally wife, “ femme de la main gauche.”

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pose.

They may talk a donkey's hind leg off, and I wouldn't send a single line to the

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Talosk (tinker), weather.
Tambour (Punch and Judy), the

drum.
Tame cats (society). Thus de-
fined by the Saturday Review :-

“There is a class of men, who are not at all young by any means, who in society are termed tame cats; these men present rather a ludicrous spectacle for their foolishness. They are by no means vicious, but they are by no means manly. They continue to attend all entertainments till they are well on in the sere and yellow leaf; they have no occupations; they are neither men of letters nor of arts; they are not political ; and, last of all, they are in no way sportsmen, neither shooting, hunting, driving, nor fishing. The raison d'être of their existence seems hard to define; their daily occupation is wandering round from house to house, and exchanging gossip and scandal with old ladies and young alike. They have the entrée to many houses where they are welcome at all times, and are not looked upon as eligible husbands for the daughters of the house ; they are made use of to fill up vacancies at dinner, theatre parties, &c., and, above all, they are essentially good-natured." Tame cheater (thieves), a false

player. Tan (gypsy), a tent, a place, a resting-place. A word of very

general application. To tan, to encamp or rest. “Kek tan to hatch "_“No place to rest.” “ Chiv a tan apré"_" Pitch a tent.” “Kánná bóro bávol se, huller the tan parl the wāver rikk pāli the bor "_" When there is a great wind, move the tent to the other side behind the hedge." (l'ana, Hindu.)

Gypsy Saying. Tangle-footed, tangle-legged

(American), drunk. Tangle-foot (from tangle-footed), bad whisky or spirits. Derived from the idea that a man when intoxicated has a tendency to entwine or tangle his feet together, or to get them locked in every obstacle in the way. “ Drink a pint of tangle-foot,

You'll catch your boot

In every root.” Tāni (gypsy), small, young; tanirāni, young lady ; tanopen, childhood, youth.

Tanner, a sixpence. Hotten says

of it, “Perhaps gypsy tawno (tāno), little, or Latin tener, slender.” It is more likely to have been derived directly by the ancestors of the gypsies from the Indian silver coin tanga or tana, which has been rated from fivepence (Malcolm, 1815), to sevenpence-halfpenny, which is its present value in Turkestan (Anglo-Indian Glossary). This would make its average value sixpence. The obvious derivation is the Sanskrit tarka, a weight of silver equal to four

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324

moshas, a stamped coin. The
word has been in use over a
vast extent of territory. The
threepenny piece (ruppeny bitto)
is the only coin which is speci.
ally called little in gypsy, and
it is most unlikely that a six-
pence would be called a par-
ticularly small coin while four-
penny, threepenny, and even
twopenny silver coins were in
circulation.

Old Alec don't like to win with favour.
ites. I shall 'ave my tanner on Timothy.
-Sporting Times.
Tanning (common), a beating.
Tan, to (common), to beat or
thrash. Exists in several Eng-
lish dialects, with variations,
such as tan base, tan baste, tancel,
but is used slangily. French
slang, tanner le cuir. Exists in
gypsy as tanner, from tanava, I
beat. Hindu tan, abuse.
Tanyok (tinker), halfpenny.

(Query tāni, little, Romany, and
nyok, a head ?)

Tape-worm (Stock Exchange), a

nasty name for a man who walks about the House collecting prices of different stock to telegraph on the tape. Tapper (old cant), bailiff, tipstaff.

In provincial English it means an innkeeper. Tapping the admiral, secretly boring a hole through a spirit cask and sucking the contents out through a quill or straw. An admiral died aboard ship some distance from England. He had wished to be buried at home, and to preserve his body the officers placed it in a cask filled with spirits, and securely nailed the head of the cask down. During the voyage home an Irishman of the marines was continually drunk, and it was a great mystery to see where he got his liquor from. For some drunken breach of discipline he was ordered to be flogged, but he was promised forgiveness if he would tell who had supplied him with drink. Upon that he confessed that he had been “SO hard up for a dhrink, that bedad he'd tapped the admiral," i.e., made a hole in the cask and sucked out through a tobacco pipe the spirit in which the admiral's body was preserved. Taps (American). “To be on one's

taps is to be on one's feet, literally on one's soles ; on the move, or ready to move. A metaphor preserved from the shoemaker” (Bartlett). To tap

Tap (tailors), getting the tap of

the job, getting the upper hand,
Tape (popular), liquor. Red tape,

wine. White tape, gin. Vide
WHITE TAPE.
Oh! those jovial days are ne'er forgot!

But the tape lags-
When I be's dead, you'll drink one pot
To poor old Bags!

-Lytton : Paul Clifford.
(American), explained by quo-
tation.

His white tie was not of lawn, but of
that most approved Bond Street pattern
known as tape.-American Magazine.

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Tap tub, the Morning Advertiser,

so called by vulgar people from the fact that this daily newspaper is the principal organ of the London brewers and publicans (Hotten).

Taradiddles (society), falsehoods,

travellers' tales or yarns. Tar brush (nautical), any one of mixed blood is said to have had a touch of the tar brush.

Tap the claret, to (pugilistic), to

give a blow on the nose which draws blood. He was thoroughly conversant with the sporting slang of Tintinnabulums Life when he told Verdant that his claret had been repeatedly tapped.-C. Bede: Ver. dant Green. Tap the wire, to (American), to

obtain surreptitious possession of the electric telegraph wire and extract the information with which it is charged. General Morgan, the Confederate officer, once when tapping the wire was in ignorance of the name of the station in the hand of the Federals, and to obtain the information he adopted the fol. lowing ruse. He telegraphed, “A gentleman in the office bets me two cigars you cannot spell the name of your station." Answer, “Take the bet. Lebanon Junction—is this not right; how did he think I would spell it ?” General Morgan replied, “He gives it up; he thought you would put two b's in Lebanon." Answer, “He is a green one." Vide TELEGRAM, MILKING A. Tap, to (thieves), to break into

a house.

The most difficult part of all is to dress so as to escape a description which the

Tare, tear (American), a frolic,

spree, riot, bender, batter, or rampage.

I'm on a rare (rear),

I'm on a tare;
On a high old circumbendibus,

Such as will be

A sight to see,
When the boys pull into the rendyvoos.

-American Newspaper.

Tarryin (tinker), rope.

Tart (common), a young lady, an

actress of smart personal appearance and fine manners. There seems some doubt as to whether the term is an aspersion on the lady's character or not, as may be seen from a case of an actress who brought an action against the Sporting Times for calling her a tart, which created much amusement at the time.

The word tart also designates a mistress or girl with whom one has had only casual inti

Tart-Tatter.

326

macy, or even a wife. Also They're but fairies in fake, their com

plexions seem pastyany girl or woman. Formerly

I've no wish for a place in their very one's mistress was termed “my

best books. jam,” or “my little bit of jam.”

-Bird o' Freedom. The term is apparently from a

Tashi shingomai (tinker), to read simile between a sweet jam tart and a girl (compare “cherry.

the newspaper. pie” for a girl). It is an old

Tasser (gypsy), to suffocate, word revived a few years ago by

drown, or strangle, “Beng tasser certain sporting journals. Tart

tute!”_"May the devil strangle was originally schoolboys' slang,

you!" probably abbreviated from tartar in this instance.

Tat-box (gambling), a dice-box : I remember, I remember, though Time's

tats are dice. progress is so fleet, How I doated on my juvenile sweet.

Tatch (popular), a bat; a corruphearts,

tion of "thatch." And I remember that I thought them so superlatively sweet,

Taters. Vide STRAIN YOUR That I spoke of them admiringly as TATERS.

tarts. But now! Well, times have altered, and · Tater-trap (popular), for potato.

I'm not prepared to say
If a girl's “a tart” or not-so here I'll

trap, mouth.
pause,

Up goes the jug to Ginger's tater-trap. For it's probable that if I called a girl “a -Brighton Beach Loafer.

tart” to-day, She would summons me next week to Tatols (Winchester College), show just cause !

tutors in Commoners who came -Sporting Times.

into course in alternate weeks The latest synonym for tart is to be present at meals and "bun.” Tart is a word gene Toys, and for names - calling, rally recognised and understood and to go round galleries at in the United States. It is 9.15. sometimes used as an uncom

Tats (canting), old rags. Gypsy plimentary epithet, an abbreviation from tartar.

tat or tats, not only rags, &c., but coarse sack-cloth. Hindu

tāt, sack-cloth. Hence tatters Tartlet (London), usually applied

in English. Milky tats, white to a lady of the demi-monde, or

linen.
even quart-de-monde. A dimi-
nutive of "tart."

Now I'll tell you about the tat-gatherers;

buying rags they call it, but I call it E'en tartlets are stale, be they ever so bouncing people.—Mayhew: London Latasty

bour and the London Poor.,
The magic has fled from their languorous
looks:

Tatter (tramps), a rag-gatherer.

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Tatties (Anglo-Indian), a frame Tax collector (old), a high

composed of thick jungle grass, wayman, a bandit. So called the inside being interlaced with from the forcible extraction layers of slender fibrous roots, of money and kind from his on which water is constantly victims--a sarcastic reference thrown to cool the air.

to the similar tactics of “the As a rule, during the very hottest months powers that be.” In America a all the doorways situate on the sides of the “road agent." buildings towards which the breeze mav be blowing are usually fitted with portable Tea-boardy (studios), an epithet arrangements called tatties. - Brunlees

applied to an inferior picture, Patterson: Life in the Ranks.

which reminds one of the oldTattle or tattler (thieves), a watch. fashioned lacquered tea-trays A famble, a tattle, and two pops

with landscapes on them. Had my bowman when he was ta'en. --Frisky Moll's Song.

Tea chop (nautical), small craft I have made a grab at a bunch of onions used to bring a cargo of tea to-night, but the jockey wore a guard to alongside the ocean-going vessel. his tattler.-Disconsolate William. To speak to the tattler, to steal

Teach-guy (costers), back slang a watch.

for eight shillings.

The exception to the uniformity of the Speak to the tattler, bag the swag,

“gen” enumeration is in the sum of eight And finely hunt the dummy.

shillings, which, instead of “teaich-gen,” --C. Hindley: Life and Times of

is teaich-guy.-Mayhew.
James Catnach.
To nim a tattler, to steal a

Tea-fight (society), an evening watch. Tattler, a dog that barks. In French argot " tambour” or Tea - kettle (popular), tea - kettle “alarmiste."

grooms, or coachmen, are those Tattogeys (old cant), players who

who do general work. T'ea-kettle play with loaded dice. Vide purgers are scullery-maids. TAT-BOX. The tattogey was the

A decent allowance made to seedy

swells, tea-kettle purgers, head-robbers, dice-cloth.

and flunkeys out of collar. -A Tailor's Tattoo (Anglo-Indian), a pony.

Advertisement. Taut hand (nautical), a strict dis

Team (Oxford and Cambridge ciplinarian, a martinet.

Universities), the pupils of a

coach or private tutor. It freSir Hannibal regulated his household as he did his ship; he was, in truth, what

quently, indeed usually hapis termed a taut hand; at the sound of

pens that a “coach” of repuhis stump cook and housemaid held their tation declines taking men into peace, while his lady-wife scarcely dared to his team before they have made bless herself without permission.Scraps.

time in public. (American), it Tav (gypsy), string, thread, fine is remarkable that team, as now

cord, strip, lace. Tel, thread. used in America to signify a

party.

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company or party, or number of people, is old Saxon, or, as Ettmüller defines it, “ Teám,

nons ordo cujusvis generis.” a series of any kind.

“He Nôe bearh and his vife and his teame at tham miclan fløde ”—“ He preserved Noah and his wife and his team (suboles, offspring) in the great flood.” Hence to team with, associate. "Godes bearn tým, don vid manna dohtru”_"And the children of God teamed with the daughters of men”. (Ettmüller, Anglo-Saxon Lexicon).

Teapot (American), a mispronun

ciation of depôt, i.e., a railway station.

Then cutspoke a man unnoted
Hitherto: “I heard the fellow
Say just now to the conductor
Ere we reached the second teapot,
That he reckoned he must hook it
This here time a little sooner
If he hoped to get his portion."

--In Nevada.

Teapot soak (thieves), a thief who steals plate, teapots, &c. Teapot soaks will have the twitters, Garrotters oft will suffer pain.

-Fun Almanack. Tearing his seat (tailors), trying

to do more than he can, Tear up, a (criminal), explained

by quotation. Going a day or two back into the casual ward of my union, I found a policeman standing waiting in the day room. Guessing that he had come to remove a casual to the police court, “What is it this tine? Anything serious ?" I asked. “Oh no, sir; only a tear up," was the reply. This, of course, was so far satisfactory; but as it is possible that among the readers of the St. James's Gazette there may be some who are unacquainted with the accepted method of obtaining a fresh outfit among the casual poor, it may be worth while to explain a little further. But first let us visit the unfortunate creature that the constable has come for.

In a small room, some seven feet by four, the furniture of which consisted of a bed and a wooden stool (it is usual to call these rooms "cells," and it must be confessed that "cell" is more accurately descriptive of the facts than "room" or “cubicle," which has also been suggested as the proper term), we found a brokendown, dejected-looking man of about forty. He was dressed in a brown cloth coat that had seen better days, a pair of almost new corduroy trousers, and boots which, though not new, were stout and serviceable. At his feet, in a heap on the floor, lay some filthy rags of cloth and cotton, the remnants of what had recently been his garments; on the top of them the sole and a fragment of the upper part of one of his boots. The heap was the result of the tear up.--St. Jaines's Gazette. Teaser (pugilistic), a maddening

blow.

The latter planted a teaser on Sam's mouth, which produced the claret in streams.-Pierce Egan: Book of Sports.

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Tease, to (prison), to flog ; to

nap the tease, to be flogged. Teaspoon (sport), five thousand

pounds. Teс or teck (popular and thieves),

explained by quotation.

The "detective” was always an untold terror, because he could not see him, and every suspicious man was to him a teck. He despised the “bobby" or the" copper," but he had an untold dread of the teck. -Evening News.

“Hulloh, father!” cried Shakspeare, “look here! Isn't that the 'tec that we see so often at the races?”—G. Sims : Rogues and Vagabonds. Teck (Harrow school), mathe

matics. Teddy Hall (Oxford University),

St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford.

Teejay (Winchester College). When a new man comes, he is given by his house-master to an old man to be protected and instructed in notions. From the French protégé. Teek (Anglo-Indian), exact, close,

precise, parsimonious. Hindu thick.

is surreptitiously made use of by others (Dr. Brewer).

They receive their telegrams in cipher to avoid the risk of their being milked by rival journals.—The Times. Telescoped (Australian popular),

suppressed, silenced. Telescoped signifies “shut up" like a telescope is shut up, cf. “shut up” itself. Possibly also when they use it, people may think of it in its railway-accident sense of one carriage being forced into another.

At first the widow flew into a rage and used indignant language to her pastor, who felt quite telescoped.- New South Wales Paper. Té-li-man (pidgin), tailor. Tell-box (American gamblers).

The tell-box is an improvementon the "gaff” (9.v.), and has a fine spring attached to it. The object of it is to cheat the dealer. The dealer plays with a pack of cards which the player has had a chance to handle, and he nebs the backs of certain of them with sand-paper. The rough card adheres to the smooth one, and the fact that it does not move a hairsbreadth in the box enables him to know the card that is covered, and he plays accordingly. He can also play in the same manner with a new pack of cards without sanding them, as certain cards require a greater amount of ink than others (New York

Slang Dictionary). Tell Chapman to crow ! (Ame

rican). About fifty years ago,

Teeth (nautical), to have one's

“back teeth afloat,” to be very much intoxicated. Teeth-drawing (medical stud

ents), wrenching off knockers. Teetotal hotel, her Majesty's

(prison), a prison. Telegram, milking a. A telegram

is said to be milked when the message sent to a specific party

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Ven luckily for Jem a teller
Vos planted right upon his smeller.

- Ainsworth: Rookwood. Temples (Winchester College),

explained by quotation.

On the last night of term there is a bonfire in Ball Court, and all the temples or miniature architectural excavations in “Mead's" wall are lighted up with candle-ends.- Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

it was made the subject of a political revelation or scandal that an eminent Democratic politician (we think it was John Van Buren) had written to an associate bidding him “tell Chap. та make a bluster and brag in his newspaper. This caused a great deal of laughter, and from that time “ Crow, Chapman, crow ! " became a byword. From this originated the custom of announcing political victories by putting pictures of crowing cocks at the head of the column. Once an editor, named John Du Solle, in Philadelphia, announced a Democratic victory, only unfortunately “a little too previously,” as it appeared a few hours after that the Democrats had lost the battle of the ballot. More unfortunately still, Colonel Du Solle had ordered the “rooster” crowing to be put at the head of the “grand victory and overwhelming defeat," but in the haste of “making up,” the typo put it in upside down, so that the cock of triumph appeared like that de. scribed by Washington Irving as sprawling ignominiously on his back. From that time, perhaps, even here and there to the present day, a defeat is announced by reversing the gallant bird.

Temps. For this there is no Eng.

lish equivalent. Hoffman, translating Robert Houdin, writes that it is "the opportune moment for effecting a given disappearance or the like, un. known to the spectators" ("Con

juring and Magic"). Ten-cent man, a (American), a

small, narrow-minded, or trifling man.

You can get more wind out of a tencent fan than you can from a $500 one. It's the same way with a ten-cent man.Detroit Free Press. Tench (thieves), abbreviated from

House of Detention.

I fell at Isleworth for being found in a conservatory adjoining a parlour, and got remanded at the tench.--Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Ten commandments (popular),

fingers or nails. Tender-foot (American), one who

is new to the country, a green. horn or “griffin." Applied in the West to those whose feet are not yet accustomed to much walking, or probably to those unused to moccasins.

Stebbins fell an easy victim to the cigarette and smoked incessantly. The

Teller (pugilistic), a well-planted

blow that tells. Each cove vos teazed with double duty, To please his backers, yet play booty,

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effect of the habit on him was not noticed until one day he fired at a tender.foot from the East, three times in succession, and missed him every time.- Detroit Free Press.

How an American ever expects to digest his food is a problem to a tenderfoot, as they call us new-comers.-Phil. lips-Wolley: Trottings of a Tender-foot.

A yell as I put my naked foot on a cactus, and thus made my first acquaintance with a noteworthy member of the flora of the sandy prairies, is a reminiscence of that night, and I realised in a substantial form the nickname that is given to the new-comer out West of tender-foot or pilgrim.-A. Staveley Hill: From Home to Home.

Tenner (prison), a sentence of ten

years' penal servitude.

The speaker, in a stage whisper, would continue : “It's all right. Don't turn your head.” After another journey round the ring, he would again hiss : “How long have you got?”

“A tenner and my ticket," would be the reply.-Evening News.

(Common), a ten-pound note. “No money?” “Not much ; perhaps a tenner.” — Hughes : Tom Brown at Oxford.

Bookie (holding out his hand): “Evens."

M.P.: “Yes; a tenner. I'll settle after the race."

B.: “All right. What name?”
M.P.: “Brown-Smith, R.H.A."

B.: “Oh, one of your bloomin' initials is enough!”-Sporting Times.

Ve find a pank-note in de shtreet,

Next dings der pank ish preak,
Ve falls und knocks our outsides in,
Ven ve a ten-shtrike make.

—The Breitmann Ballads. Ten up! (Stock Exchange). If a broker's credit is at all shaky, or it is thought he is unable to carry out his contracts, he is required to lodge ten per cent. of any stock bought before the contract can be considered valid.

This is called ten up. Terri (tinker), coal. Terry (tinker), a heating-iron. Tertians. Vide BEJANT. Teviss (costers and tramps), a

shilling. Thanks, no (society), an expres.

sion meaning one does not intend to be taken in. There are variations of this, as “Not in

these boots,” &c. Thari (tinker), to talk, language,

conversation. Also bug. “Can
you thari Shelta, sublee?”—
“ Can you talk Shelta, man?”
“Do you grani the Minklas
thari ?" -- "Do you know the

tinkers' tongue?” Thatch (popular), a person's hair ;

well thatched, with a good head

of hair. Also a straw hat. That-side (pidgin), there. “That

sidey sittee he compladore.” This-side, here. “Hab makee stop this side.” That's too rich for your blood

(American), too good for any one.

Ten-strike (American), a ten-strike

is the highest "count” which
can be made at the game of
ten-pins. Applied to a very
lucky hit at anything, or to an
unusual stroke of success.
Oh, vot ish all dis earthly pliss ?

Oh, vot ish man's soockcess ?
Oh, vot ish various kinds of dings?

Und vot ish hoppiness?

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You go a visitin' Miss Perkinblower! You makin' calls on a judge's daughter ! That's too rich for your blood-why, they'll jest tell the servant to carry you out on a chip and heave you into the barn-yard. Newspaper Story : MS. Americanisms. by C. Leland Harrison. That's where your toes turn in

(American), one of many popular expressions, equivalent to “That is where you make a mistake." “My frens,” continued the speaker, “de rich man walks on welwet capets, an' he sots doun on stuffed cheers, an' he has Saratoga 'taters ebery meal. He jists rolls in ham an' eggs, an' he walks all ober fri. cassed chicken. De poo' man walks on a bare flo', sots on a hard cheer, an' his 'taters am biled wid de hides on. Yet who am de happiest? You will say de rich man, of co'se-but dat's whar' yer toes turn in. -Detroit Free Press.

Theatre (thieves), a police court.

(Army), Irish theatre, the guardroom. Theddy, tedhi, thedi (tinker), fire. There's no knowing what an

ox may do (American). This, which was once a popular ex. pression, may still be heard occasionally in New England.

“There was once a Yankee in Montreal who was about to race horses with an Englishman for a thousand dollars a side. Two days before the run was to come off, the Yankee learned that his horse had not a ghost of a chance to win. While walking about town, he saw an immense prize ox adorned with ribbons, preceded by a band of music. This gave him an idea. He went to the Englishman, and proposed a preliminary ex

amination of both their beasts.' The Englishnan assented, and said, 'Well, show your horse.'”

"Horse !' said the Yankee. I ain't got no horse. Why, Squire, don't you know my critter's an ox, Didn't you see him goin' about town this arternoon?'

“The Englishman was bewildered. He had seen the ox, and believed the Yankee. The race is off l’he exclaimed. "I'll run my animal against any horse, but there's no knowing what a d- d ox may do!"" There you ain't (popular), this expression expresses a failure. It is the converse of “There you

are” (q.v.). I saw a lady, I rose my cadie,

I'went like this, and then I did a wink, I said you're tasty, very tasty,

Then proposed adjourning for a drink. But she was stuck up, and turned her

nose up, And tried to look as though she were a

saint, I did just what I thought, but she wasn't

quite my sort, So there you ain't, there you ain't, there

you ain't. -Music Hall Ballad (Francis & Day). There you are (popular), meaning that you are all right. “Manage

it properly, and there you are.' Nod politely, but do it nicely,

And if the chance occurs, just do a wink; Don't be hasty, but if it's tasty,

Try within your own her arm to link. While you're talking, and onward walking,

Be careful that you do not go too far, And if the girl's the proper sort, and you

do just what you ought, Why, there you are, there you are, there

you are, -Music Hall Ballad (Francis & Day).

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Thick (popular), cocoa. Porter is

also known as thick or "apronwashings,” because the water in which the brewers' aprons are washed is supposed to be utilised in its manufacture. This derivation is doubtful. (Common), intimate. “You haven't been round to see me so often as you used to?”

“No; I've made a new set of acquaintances.”

“What's that to do with it?”

“Well, you see, they're very thick. The consequence is, I'm either hoodman or getting over an attack of D.T.”-Bird o' Freedom.

To lay it on thick, to flatter in an exaggerated manner. (Winchester College), a thick, a stupid fellow.

Thick ’un (common), a sovereign.

"Have you sufficient confidence in me to lend me a sovereign ?” “Oh! yes, I've the confidence, but I haven't, the thick 'un'.”-Atkin : House Scraps. . I forfeited three thick 'uns entrance fee at Alexandra Park over a horse which I have never seen, which was sold to me for nothing by a man that it didn't belong to. -Sporting Times. Thieves, murdering (army), for

merly the military train. Thieving-irons (old), scissors.

Bill placed his canister under the thiev. ing-irons, while Dick and the barber gave play to their velvets.-J. Burrowes: Life in St. George's Fields. Thilly (tinkers), a make-weight.

“You're welcome to your fun this mornin', Jim," replies Jack, “but wouldn't you have the halt, and that bit of a spavin your baste have, go agin one another? and maybe you'd give us a pair of specs a blind horse could see wud, by way of a thilly; for your hunther will soon want that same sort of a spy-glass.”—Sporting Times.

Thimble. This, in canting, gene

rally means a watch. The gypsies, however, apply it to both watch and purse; and this confusion of terms is also to be found occasionally among thieves in America. It is probable that the Romany word meaning purse is by far the oldest, since in Hindu zambil is a purse or wallet. Gypsy is popularly supposed to be a mélange of many languages; but in the Anglo-Romany about forty-nine words out of fifty are not merely Hindustani, but to a very great extent indeed Hindi - Persian, approximating often much more closely to an old form than modern Hindu itself. This was the opinion of

the late Professor E. H. Palmer. Thimble-rigger (common), a

sharper who practises the thimble-rig, a cheating game, played thus: A pea is placed on a table, and the man rapidly covers it successively with three or four thimbles, which are then laid on the table. You are then asked to point out the thimble which is supposed to cover the pea, but which is concealed under the cheat's nail or up his sleeve.

The poor trumpery beggars-converted clowns, and dog-stealers, and tramps, and thimble-riggers — a poor out-at- elbows crew.-J. Greenwood: Dick Tempie. Thimble-twister (thieves), a thief

who steals watches from the person. Things, the (thieves), base coin.

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Thin ’un (popular and thieves),

half a sovereign. Thirteen clean shirts, getting

(prison), three months' imprisonment, shirts being changed once a week in prison. Thoker (Winton), a large, thick

slice of bread, baked after being

soaked with water. Thoke, to (Winchester College),

to rest. Old provincial English thoky, sluggish. A thoke is rest, lying in bed. (Winchester), to lie in bed late. But “to thoke upon anything" is to look forward with pleasurable anticipation to its enjoyment. Thomyok, tomyok (tinker), magistrate. Literally great

head. Three-by-nine smile (American),

a laugh or smile to the full extent of the jaws. A pun on the word benign.

“Papa, don't you think young Mr. Canter has a benign smile?'

“Yes, my dear, seven-by-nine. I never see him do it without wishing to throw a shovelful of corn into his mouth."-New York Journal.

I found Mrs. Langtry engaged in practising a new fall, and she smiled a three-by-nine smile on me. – New York Morning Journal. Three cheers and a tiger (Ame

rican). In the United States, after three cheers are given, it is usual to add a howl, called "the tiger," in order to intensify the applause, Bartlett gives a very meaningless account of doubtful authenticity as to the origin of this phrase,

saying that a man once cried to the Boston Light Infantry, “Oh, you tigers," and that they began to growl. The true origin seems to be as follows: Once the famous wit and politician, S. S. Prentiss, being on a stumping tour, came to a town where there was a small menagerie on exhibition. This he hired for a day and threw it open to all comers, availing himself of the occasion to make a political speech. The orator, holding a ten-foot pole, stood on the tiger's cage, in the roof of which there was a hole, and whenever the multitude applauded one of his “points" with three cheers, Mr. Prentiss poked the tiger, who uttered a harsh roar. From this three cheers and a tiger spread over the country. The writer had this anecdote from a relative of Mr. Prentiss,. and can vouch for its authenticity. “Three cheers and a tiger" are the inseparable demonstrations of approbation on all festive and joyous occasions in New York.-Boston Evening Post.

The phrase, which was new in 1842, has become common since that time, and has ex. tended from New York to every part of the country where political and social gatherings are held. Three - decker (booksellers), a

three-volume novel. Three draws and a spit (com. mon), a jocular phrase for a cigarette.

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Three-legged mare, the gallows, let the heralds invent a cognizance for

three sheets in the wind.-Illustrated because originally formed of

London News. three parts.

A woman who scrubs For the mare with three legs, boys, I care

Over lathery tubs, not a rap,

Though not of a bibulous mind, 'Twill be over in less than a minute.

Has no cause to faint -Ainsworth : Rookwood.

If folks make a complaint The gallows was the sheriff's “picture Of her having three sheets in the wind. frame;” or, before it assumed its later

-Bird o' Freedom. improved shape, the three-legged mare.Globe.

Three X's (army), the 30th RegiWas also called the “triple

ment of Foot, from the Roman

numerals XXX. tree.” Three-pair back (popular), a back

Throttle (popular), throat. room on third floor.

Sam's throttle napt a rum one, but the

latter put in his one two with heavy effect. So they eloped together from the work. · --Pierce Egan: Book of Sports. house, and took shelter in a three-pair back. -J. Wight: Mornings at Bow Street. Through a side-door (common), Three-ply (American), a Mormon

“the child came through a sidename for a man with three wives.

door,” i.e., is illegitimate. How the three-ply system works

Some wicked wretches say, but I is set forth in the following

My indignation smother,

That I came through a side-door, extract.

Into this world from the other. Other wives again, through policy, and

-H. Wilson: The Blessed Orphan. for their children's sake, become good girls, and jog along in misery as best they can.

Throwing off (American gamBut when the lord after some time-shorter blers), a term used by gamblers or longer–becomes somewhat cooled off when a capper is the partner of in his affection for the "second," or per

a sucker (dupe). The capper haps sees another woman who strikes his

can lose when he pleases, thereby fancy, he at once feels the necessity of his still greater exaltation in both worlds, and

throwing off the sucker (New becomes a three-ply.-New York Herald. York Slang Dictionary). Three ride business, the crack Throw off the belt, to (American),

way of running over hurdles, to stop a machine, to cause anyin which just three strides thing to cease. “Oh, just throw are taken mechanically between off the belt, and stop your wheels,” each hurdle.

i.e., cease talking. Three sheets in the wind (com

There seems to be a tolerably general mon), originally a sea phrase ;

demand that the controller of Lord Tenny

son's poetical machine should throw off the intoxicated, or nearly so.

belt.-Detroit Free Press. Many of these votaries of Bacchus were three sheets in the wind,-Punch.

Throw up a maiden, to (cricket), It should be enacted, in addition, that

to bowl an innings without any the drunkard should wear a badge, ... runs being made by the batsman.

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in,

Thrums (costermongers), three. slab he traced, in burning letters a foot pence.

long, “T. Williams and Son sell Bugs,

Jugs, Rugs, and Thunder-Mugs." A few Thrups (popular), threepence. ornamental flourishes that would have

made Michael Angelo look about for a Thugs (American). This word is place in which to lie down and die, comin the United States applied to

pleted the first venture.—He'd Paint, so the adherents of the native Ame

He Would: An American Story. rican party and others by their Tib (old cant), a goose. opponents, also to roughs and On red shanks and tibs thou shalt every villains generally.

day dine.

-Retoure, my dear Dell. Thumper (common), a gross false Also “tib of the buttery." Tib hood.

is provincial English for a calf. Thumpers (showmen, itinerants), Tibby (popular), the head. dominoes.

I'm a chickaleery bloke with my one, two,

three, Thumping (common), very large. Whitechapel is the village I was born Thunderer, the (journalistic), the For to get me on the hop, or my tibby

Times newspaper. This sobri drop,
quet was given to the chief

You must wake up very early in the

mornin'. London daily because of the

-The Chickaleery Cove. unusual force and vigour displayed in a series of articles

It has been suggested that formerly contributed to its

tibby, or a thick skull, is dis

coverable in tibbad, thickness, a columns by Captain Edward Stirling.

blockhead, explained in Shaw's

Gaelic Dictionary published Thundering (common), very large, more than half a century ago. superlative.

More probably from tab, tib, Young women employed in drapery end piece. To “drop on the establishments may be interested to learn tibby” is to startle or alarm any that if their employer accuses them of

one, to take him unawares. telling thundering lies, they are justified in leaving their situation without notice. Tib's Eve, on (popular), on the -Globe.

Greek Kalends, i.e., never, at He took me into his confidence, with the professed object, as he himself declared,

no time. of proving to me “what a thundering foolTichborne's own (army), the 6th he had been.”—). Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co.

Carabineers. Thunder-mug (American low), a

Tick (common), credit. “What is chamber utensil.

the damage of the tick,” what The first place our Sophomorę got in his

is the amount of the bill on scenic work was on the slab fence opposite

credit. Tick is old English, now the Presbyterian Church. On the topmost used slangily.

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I confess my tick is not good. --Sedley:
The Mulberry Garden, 1668.
What, Timon, does old age begin t' ap-

proach
That thou thus droop'st under one night's

debauch, Hast thou lost deep to needy rogues on

tick, Who ne'er could pay, and must be paid

next week?

-The Earl of Rochester's Works.
When you've got lots of money

You're a brick, brick, brick;
When you've got lots of money

All your friends to you will stick;
But when you've got no money
All the world has lost its honey,
And you'll find your name is Dennis
When you want tick, tick, tick.

-Broadside Ballads. Some dads leave houses to their sons,

Mine ne'er left me a brick,
And so just like my watch, by Jove,
I always go on tick.

-G. W. Hunt: The Custom

of the Country.

You know you'll buy a dozen or two of
wipes, dobbin cants, or a farm, or a tick
with any rascal.-Parker: Variegated
Characters.
Ticker (thieves), a watch.
For seven long years have I served them,

And seven long years I have to stay,
For meeting a bloke in our alley,
And taking his ticker away.

-Inscribed on a Prison Wall.
“And always put this in your pipe,
Nolly,” said the Dodger. “If you don't
take fogles and tickers-if you don't take
pocket-handkerchers and watches-some
other cove will."-Charles Dickens : Oliver
Twist.

As it is, we're doing proper, and nicking our ten or a dozen tickers in the course of a single afternoon.-Funny Folks.

(American University), one who does not know what he is

talking about. Ticket (common and American),

that's the ticket, that is the proper thing, exactly what is required. In this sense ticket is the equivalent of the French étiquette, of which the original meaning is label, notice posted up, hence arrangement, ceremonial.

Quite the real ticket if the dons as wholesales the blacklead would make it up to sell in ha’porths and penn'orths.Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

"'Deed, that ain't the ticket, Miss Mary Jane," I says, "by no manner of means." -Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn.

“What's the ticket ?” what is the programme? what is to be done? In French “quelle est la marche du bouf gras ?” alluding to the pageant and procession of the prize ox in the streets of Paris (now a thing of

In the seventeenth century a ticket was a tradesman's bill or written acknowledgment of a debt or score, and hence the phrase on ticket, on trust, on account, on credit, on tick, signified the same. In French slang the equivalent is “avoir l'ardoise," alluding to the slate on which accounts are recorded

at wine shops. Your courtier is mad to take silks and

velvets On ticket for his mistress.

-Cotgrave. No matter upon landing whether you have money or no- you may swim in twentie of their boats over the river upon ticket.-Decker: Gulls Horn Book, 1609.

Also a watch. Same in German cant. In French cant “tocante." VOL. II.

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the past). (American), “what's the ticket on it ?” what is the price of it? what will be the result. (Theatrical), ticket night, a night on which the friends of the supers at a theatre are allowed to buy tickets, on the understanding that it is some advantage to the supers, who have a percentage on the receipts. (Australian), to go on a ticket, to be in favour of, to adopt the policy of. Probably adopted from the United States. It signifies to make a thing one's policy. Thus Mr. Gladstone would be said to be "going on the Home Rule ticket."

Tick up, to (popular), to put to

one's account.

It was handed round, and everybody praised the ale. . . . Some adding that they would tick it up this time, but that the next time they happened to be passing they would be sure to call in and rub off the score. - Household Words: Lodged in Newgate. Tiddlywink (provincial), a leaving

shop, where money is lent on goods without a pawnbroker's

license. Tied his hair, that (tailors), that

puzzled him, he had to give it up, could not do it.

Tickler (common), a small short

poker used to save the ornamental fire-irons. A regular tickler, a poser. (Popular), a whip.

I don't recollect whether Mrs. Joe Gargery's tickler, which was the terror of Pip's life, was minutely described in “Great Expectations."-Greenwood: In Strange Company.

(American), explained by quotation.

The drummer never travels without a tickler, which is not, as the name might seem to imply, a sportive term for a bowieknife, but a small pocket ledger, in which are carefully noted all the debts incurred by the parties with whom the drummer does business; and which consequently enables him to refresh, or tickle, the memory of firms who are a little behindhand with their payments.-Daily Telegraph. Ticks (sporting), debts. From

tick, credit, or written acknow. ledgment of a debt.

Tied his wool (tailors), vide TIED

HIS HAIR Tie-drive, tie (American), timbers

tied together, rafts.

The "boys” are men engaged in landing ties thus floated down; and sitting around the red-hot stove, they make the evening jolly with songs and yarns of tie. drives and of wild rides down the long “V”flume.-James Stevens : Around the World on a Bicycle. Tied up (popular), given over,

finished. Tied up prigging (thieves), given

over thieving.

Tiffin (Anglo-Indian and pidgin),

luncheon, at least in English households. Also to tiff, to take luncheon. As there is no plausible or possible derivation of the word from any Eastern tongue, the authors of the Anglo-Indian Glossary believe it to be a local survival of our old English colloquial or slang term. Grose (1785) de

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utters before she staggers to her straw, to snore like the worse than pig she is.Seven Curses of London.

Tigers, Bengal (army), the 17th

Foot, from their badge.

fines tiffing as eating or drinking out of meal time, or, as Americans would say, “drinking in between drinks.” To take a little tiff is an old. fashioned term for such a mere bit and sup (especially the sup) in the United States (tif, old English for a draught of liquor. Also tift, common in America), where it has certainly no AngloIndian connection. It is probably an old derivation from the same root with “tip” and “tipple.” To tiff or take luncheon is correct. To tiffin is generally used by lady-novelists who have not been in India, and it is denounced as “bad grammar, according to AngloIndian use,” in the Anglo-Indian Glossary. The Anglo - Indian word tiffin, according to G. A. Sala, is in common use in hotel advertisements in South Africa. Lawn-tennis, picnics, and flirtation fill up the time of the poor expatriated wives and daughters from tiffin to afternoon tea.-Daily Telegraph. Tiger (workmen). The navvies

call streaky bacon by this name. Vide THREE CHEERS AND A TIGER.

(American), to fight the tiger, to gamble with professionals.

From the stripes on a faro table. Tiger Bay, one of the slums of

London. As soon as her eyes are open in the morning, the she-creature of Tiger Bay seeks to cool her parched mouth out of the ginbottle; and “ your eyes, let us have some more gin !" is the prayer she nightly

Tight (common), drunk.

And I lie in such pose

On my pallet to-night
(With my boots unremoved),

That you fancy me tight-
And I rest so at large

On my pallet to-night
(With my head to its foot),

That you fancy me tight-
That you frown as you look at me,
Thinking me tight.

-Funny Folks.
He's had his day, and had his night,
And now when he did get tight,
He used to go it proper right,

Did grandfather!
-C. H. Ross: The Husband's

Boat. In about half-an-hour they were as thick as thieves again, and the tighter they got, the lovinger they got. --Mark Twain : Huckleberry Finn.

This corresponds to the French slang word “rond," drunk, i.e., distended by drink. Mr. George Augustus Sala tells an amusing story of Macready in connection with this word. To enable the reader to understand the point of the anecdote, it is essential to state that in America there is a harmless bird called a peep, which, in consequence of being purblind, flies in a groggy and erratic manner, continually striking its wings against the branches of trees. Hence it is popularly known as the boozy bird.

While playing in Philadelphia, Macready was much distressed

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being very drunk. Coming off the stage, the star encountered the manager, to whom he pointed out the peccant player.

“Do you see that beast, sir?” inquired the enraged tragedian, pointing to the drunken Horatio.

“I do, sir," replied the manager; “and I guess he's tight as a peep.”

“Oh, indeed !” growled Mac. “I was not aware that that was the gentleman's name; but it's my private opinion, sir, that Mr. Titus Peep is as drunk as a lord !”

(Popular), “blow me tight! ” an exclamation. A variation of "jigger me tight!" which origin

ally was probably obscene. “Good people, he disowns me-he's a false,

deceitful churl! And if that's not right — well, blow me tight!” She was a vulgar girl!

-Sporting Times.

At a few minutes before one, Sam threw his tile into the ring.--Pierce Egan; Book of Sports. John, Lord Kinsale, A stalwart old Baron, who acting as

henchman
To one of our early kings, killed a big

Frenchman :
A feat which his Majesty deigning to

smile on,
Allowed him henceforth to stand with his

tile on. -Ingoldsby Legends. Tried to get to the bottom of the threecard trick, but fellow was too deep a card. Got my new tile flattened by a fellow taking me for a welsher.-Moonshine.

The comparison of the head to a house or habitation is obviously appropriate and familiar, Thus the metaphor of a tile, as the covering of the house or head, is not incongruous. The hat, or tile, as used in this sense, is erroneously supposed to be a corruption of pantile or sugarloaf, because hats shaped like a sugar - loaf were sometimes worn. By a similar metaphor the hat, and sometimes the hair, was called the "thatch,” and less commonly the “slate.” The similarity in idea of many expressions of the slang of different nations, is exemplified in this as in other instances. Thus in French argot, ardoise, a slate, stands for hat or cap, as well as tile, and in Spanish cant tejado, or techo, is literally a tileroof. Dr. Brewer thinks tile is from Saxon tigel, to cover, to which is due the English provincial teag, an article of head

dress. Tile-frisking (thieves), stealing

hats from halls.

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"What's the programme ?” said the Dude to the Baby Hippo, last Saturday afternoon.

“Going on a circular tour."

“Personally conducted ? Black Maria ? Case of tile-frisking, I suppose ?"—Bird o' Freedom. Tile loose (common), to have a

tile loose, to be slightly deranged. Also a “tile off” or slate loose.” Questioned by Mr. Finlay, witness said the feather came from Mount Calvary. She thought the major had got a tile loose. -Daily, Telegraph. Till-sneak (thieves), a rogue that

robs tills. Tilt on, to (American), to tumble

on, come across, meet. From to tilt up, or tilt over.

If there are any blooming young Beechers, or flourishing clerical cocks, who expect a hen-reward for their devotion, let them beware, lest when they tilt on something extra sweet, they tilt up. Tilting on and tilting up, my young friends, is by far too favourite a vanity among you all. --Sermon by Don the Third. Timbers (popular), the legs. Also

“stems,” “pegs.” Timber-tuned (musical), said of a

person who has a heavy wooden touch on the piano, or other instrument.

made expert. Alluding to teach-
ing a child how to tell the time
from a clock. Compare with
“to know what's o'clock.”
Then “Royal" Prescot dares the fray,
And teaches us the time of day.

-St. Helen's Lantern.
“To be fly to the time of day,”
to be initiated, expert.
Who should I meet but a jolly blowen
Who was Ay to the time of day.

-W. Maginn: Vidoca's Song. Timer (thieves), used in the phrase

first, second, &c., timer. Time, to do (thieves), to serve out

a term of imprisonment. Tin (general), money. Also

"pewter.” We never put tin on a horse to win,

Lack of oof explains it partly, But the horse that will be in the final three, Is the one that races Smartley.

-Sporting Times. (Pidgin), thin, i.e., light, not heavy, short weight. Probably the origin of the American phrase "too thin,” i.e., shallow, wanting in reason. “That excuse is too thin.” “You talkee my t’at one catty ginger—t'at too tin he allo samee play, pidgin-you want

chee cheatee my, no can do." Tindal (Anglo-Indian), a native

petty-officer of lascars, or the
overseer of a gang of labourers.

Time of day (popular and thieves),

that's the time of day, that's the thing, how matters stand, or ought to stand. Pop that shawl away in my castor, Dodger, so that I may know where to find it when I cut; that's the time of day! Dickens : Oliver Twist.

To know the time of day, to be wide-awake; to be put up to the time of day, to be initiated,

Tinge (tailors), special per

centage allowed to drapers' assistants when old or damaged stock is sold. Tin-horn lot, a (American, West

ern), a term used to express

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(Naval), a contemptuous term for an ironclad.

contempt, implying that the one “contempted” is a smallminded, mean fellow. In London “tin-pot.”

There wasn't none of this small-minded scraping and shaving, and adding up and keeping tally. Them as got it paid, and them as hadn't it didn't, and that's there was to it; and if anybody said anything ugly about it, you just blowed the top of his head off, and set up the drinks, and there was an end of him. As to these here Californians that's come out since thenthey're a tin-horn lot compared, half Jew, half Chinaman, on'y fit to take their pleasure in a one-horse hearse.-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin. Tinkers' news (common), news that has been heard or told before. In Scotland the term is “pipers' news,” the idea being that information supplied by these people soon gets stale on account of their peregrinatory habits.

Tip (general), a bribe or gratuity

to servants or others, in reward for services or information furnished or expected. From tipe, to toss, as money was at one time commonly thrown to servants. The word is so extensively used as to be hardly slang. Even instances have come to our notice of men in a good position in society being blackmailed when returning home late, and, under the threat of being run in as drunk and disorderly, giving the necessary tip rather than have to go to the police-station, and perhaps get their names brought prominently before the public. — Saturday Review.

We do not desire to suggest that a judicious tip from Miss — to Constable E- , when he first addressed himself to her, would have released her from the further effects of his zeal.-The World.

Tinkler (common), explained by

quotation.

“ Hark!” cried the Dodger at this moment, “I heard the tinkler.” ... The bell was rung again.—Dickens : Oliver Twist.

French thieves call a bell “une retentissante."

In the sporting world, tip has also the signification of private information, on the chances of a horse winning, supposed to be derived from some trustworthy source. Straight tip, direct information from the owner or trainer of a horse, and generally direct information or hint on any subject. From tip, a cue, in showman's

slang.

Tin-pot (common), low, mean, as

a tin-pot game; worthless, as in a tin-pot company.

I shall have correspondents all over the world, and I shall have information of every dodge goin', from an emperor's ambition to a tin-pot company bubble.-- The Golden Butterfly.

Most of the men whom one met at the Castle had been under the patronage of sportsmen amongst the Upper Ten, and no tin-pot heroes could get a footing.– Sporting Life.

I don't know how he knows about horses, but he does; he is generally right. He's a tout-makes it his living going round giving tips.- Pall Mall Gazette. No matter what paper or tout proclaims, Take only the tip from “Truthful James;" He is up to all the dodges and games, And money's not wasted by "Truthu James.”

-Sporting Times.

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(Popular), to sling the tip, to give information, give a hint. Kim here, you confounded young josser,

while straight From the shoulder I slings you the tip, As regards a bad habit you've taken of late.

-Sloper's Vagaries. (Common), that's the tip, that is the proper thing to do; to miss one's tip, to miss one's opportunity, fail. (Old), a tip, a drink. Provincial English diminutive, tipple. Miss (with a glass in her hand)—“Hold your tongue, Mr. Neverout, don't speak in my tip."-Swift: Polite Conversation. Tip and a bopatte (provincial), a

vincial shop in country villages, where everything may be had from a

shirt to a lucifer match. Tip a stave, to (common), to sing.

Miss Amy — can also tip you a stave with an ability something above the com. mon.-Fun.

Tipster (turf), an agent who pro

cures special information for his clients on the condition of horses, their capabilities, &c.

It is an open secret that tipsters pay for their advertisements on an unusually high scale.—Bird o' Freedom.

"Sir, I am a tipster!” he said proudly. “I seldom bet for myself.” -Sporting Times. Tip the double, to (common), to

decamp.

In plain words he fairly tipped 'em the double, he was vanished. – J. Wight: Mornings at Bow Street.

Tip one's boom off. Vide To

TIP. Tipperary lawyer (Irish), a blud

geon or shillelagh. Next he produced a shillelagh-a real Tipperary lawyer-and, taking off his hat and turning back his cuffs, he proceeded to wield it in a defiant manner, finally bringing it down with a sounding thwack on the lid of the japanned box.-Daily Telegraph.

Tip the little finger, to (slangy

Australian), to drink. The expression is taken from the position of the little finger in emptying a glass. When a man takes to drink, or injures his position or business by drinking too much, Australians say that he is a little too fond of tipping the little finger.

Tippery (common), payment.

In plain words, he wished to have the tippery for his toggery.-J. Wight: Mornings at Bow Street.

Tip, to (common), to give, convey.

There are many applications of this word in English, which may be translated by "give.”

Thus “tip the wink,” a silent request to act with caution, or to abstain from crediting all that is said. Very old. In Colley Cibber's “Flora, or Hob in the Well," ii. 2, the servant

Tipping (American). “ Tipping about on her toes." Used in Philadelphia to mean a mincing

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says, “Know you, sir! Why, I bought one of your ballads for her, and she tipt the wink upon me, with as much as to say, desire him not to go till

he hears from me." Sudden she storms! she raves! You tip

the wink; But spare your censure : Silia does not

drink. -Pope's Moral Essays. At which words Sextus tipped me the wink, but I did not observe that Licinius was at all displeased with them. -Valerius.

As we went by our house I wished I hadn't sent Mary Jane out of town; because now, if I could tip her the wink, she'd light out and save me. — Mark Twain : Huckleberry Finn.

“ Tip us your fin,” shake hands. Also “tip us your daddle,” or “your flipper,” &c.

Tip us your daddle.
She tipped me her sweet little paw.

-Punch. Old Bottleblue tipped me his flipper, and 'oped I'd refreshed and all that.-Punch.

Tip me the clank like a dimber mort or you are trim a ken for the gentry-cove, he is no lansweardo, or I am a kinchin.Beaconsfield: Venetia.

To give a gratuity. “Which they're the very moral of Christyuns, sir!" observed Mrs. Tester, who was dabbing her curtseys in thankfulness for the large amount with which our hero had tipped her.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

" What's the tip?" what is to be given or paid, same as “what's the damage?” (Popular and thieves), to tip the cole, to pay money. For when that he hath nubbed us, And our friends tip him no cole, He takes his chive and cuts us down, And tips us into the hole. -The Life and Death of the Dark

man's Budge.

To“ tip the cole to Adam Tyler,” to pass the stolen money to an accomplice. To “tip the loaver,” to pay money. ... Just by sweetening them, and then they don't mind tipping the loaver.Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

(Popular), to tip one's boom' off, to depart, from a sailor's

phrase. Tip-top (common), of the best

kind, first-rate.

Tip-top swells used to come among us, and no mistake; real noblemen, sir.— Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Perhaps a tip-top cracksman be,
Or go on the high toby.

– The Song of the Young Prig.
Tip-topper (popular), a gentle-
man, one of the best class, first-

rate. Also “topper.”
Tip up, to (popular), to pay.

"Come on," whispered Mouldy, first looking up and down to see that we were not observed ; “tip up, Smiffield.”

“ Tip up!" I repeated, in amazement, seeing that he as well as Ripston were looking perfectly serious.

“Fork out,” said the boy last mentioned.
- The Little Ragamuffins.
Tire, to be tired (American), to

be afraid of, alarmed at, timid. “Sir, I thank you for not giving him your gun (revolver). Perhaps you saved my life." Then getting ferocious, "Not that I'm scared at him." Then a short silence, and glaring fiercely at me, “Nor of you either. I've seen cow-boys, bigger men than you, and with bigger hats too -but they didn't tire me. No, they didn't tire me any.”—Morley Roberts : The Western Avernus. Tish (Oxford Military College),

partition or cubicle.

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Title-page (printers), a face. A

well - displayed title - page is a

handsome, open face. Titter (popular), a girl.

Only a glass of bitter!

Only a sandwich mild !
Only a stupid titter!
Only she's not a child !
-Song: Only a Penny

Blossom. From tit, used by Dryden as a contemptuous term for a girl. Wright gives tit as provincial for smart or proud girl ; a light tit, a strumpet. Probably from titmouse. Tytmose, the pud. fem. (Halliwell). Tizzy (common), perhaps a cor

ruption from tester, an old English word for a sixpence.

There's an old 'oman at the lodge who will show you all that's worth seeing-the walks and the toy cascade--for a tizzy.Lytton : The Caxtons. Tizzy Poole (Winchester), an old

term for a fives' ball. They cost sixpence, and were sold to the boys by a head porter named Poole.

Toast, on (common), to have one

on toast, to place another in a corner or dilemma. In America a very common phrase for any

thing nicely served. Toasty (studios) is said of a

picture painted in very warm tints. French painters call this

rôti. Tobacco-curers (South Carolina),

explained by quotation. “Barns" were built or repaired, cheap thermometers-or terbacker kyorers, as they are called there-are bought, and the golden-leafed luxury -- the bane of the revenue reformer-is cut from a thousand steep and stony hillsides, and hung in “chinked and daubed" air-tight barns. -Bird o' Freedom. Tobur, toba (showmen, &c.), the

ground or field at fairs, hired to put the waggons on for show or circuses, or other al fresco entertainments, which does not amount to much, so that a man or manager is considered very hard up if he has not enough to pay the tobur. Gypsy tober,

the road, hence ground. Toby (cant), highroad. This

word is as much in use as ever among “ travellers," who now call it “tober.” “Tober" is probably the older word. See above. You are a capital fellow! and when the lads come to know their loss, they will know they have lost the bravest and truest gill that ever took to the toby.Lytton ; Paul Clifford. Toby consarn (old cant), a high

way expedition. Toby, highway. Tobyman (old cant), highwayman.

l'oby, the highway.

Toadskin (American boys' slang),

a five-cent postage-stamp. “Why, ma, don't you know what a toadskin is?” said Billy, drawing a dingy five-cent stamp from his pocket. “Here's one, and don't I wish I had lots of 'em!" -Fitz-Hugh Ludlow: Little Brother. Toasting-fork or iron (common),

a sword.

If I had given him time to get at his other pistol, or his toasting-fork, it was all up.-Hughes : Tom Brown at Oxford.

I served in Spain with the King's troopers until ... and hung up my toasting-iron.-Thackeray: Pendennis.

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B.A., and the clerk of the course was fairly out of breath when he had got to the end of this appalling cognomen. Even the sweet girl graduates smiled.-Sporting Times.

(Common), toeing one, kicking one behind.

All the most fashionable prigs, or tobymen, sought to get him into their set. Lytton: Paul Clifford. Toco or toks (popular), to give

toco, to thrash. Possibly from Italian tocco, touch, stroke.

The school-leaders come up furious, and administer toco to the wretched fags nearest at hand.-Hughes: Tom Brown's SchoolDays. Dear Charlie,-Ascuse shaky scribble ; I'm

writing this letter in bed. Went down to the Square, mate, last Sun

day, and got a rare clump on the 'ed. Beastly shame, and no error, my pippin!

Me cop it! It's too jolly rum. When a reglar Primroser gits toko, one wonders wot next there will come.

-Punch.

Toddle, to (common), to be off,

to walk. Provincial English, to walk with short steps.

"Then toddle to bed as soon as you like," said Mr. Belcher. “Can you find your way back?” – The Little Ragamuffins.

“We're a-going Hitchin way," said the companionable linker, “we'll toddle together."-). Greenwood: Tag, Rag, &

Toff (popular), a dandy, a swell,

one who appears well. Also
toffer, a well-dressed gay woman.
Derived from the Yiddish or
Hebrew toff, tov, tuw, literally
good, and used in an extended
sense which perfectly warrants
its application to good or a fine
appearance. Toff, good ; töffer,
better; töffest, best; jom toff,
good day, a festival ; toff peg,
a good groschen; tof malluschim,
fine clothes. A probable deri-
vation is from to tiff, to deck
oneself out, or toft, a dressy in-
dividual. T'off, often applied to
an over-dressed clerk or draper's
assistant, who apes the swell.
An old toff, an old beau.

A magistrate recently sentenced a woman, who made her hundredth appearance at the court, to fourteen days' hard labour. “You are an old toff," warbled the lady, "and if you sit there long enough, . I'll certainly treat you. I am now going to eat some bread and onions I have in my pocket.” “Saints preserve us !" groaned the magistrate. “Remove the lady with electric rapidity, gaoler, and get rid of those onions as quickly as possible," he continued. The gaoler obeyed orders, and as he re-entered the court, a powerful aroma floated round, and the worthy beak was heard to ejaculate “pah !"-Judy.

The sort of old toff as a cove would be proud of for a dad.-Punch. Up! sport-loving toffs, tool your drags

o'er the sward, And, forsooth! since a coster may elbow

a lord,

Co.

Toe-fil-tie (Winton), to tie string

or cord to the toes of sleeping boys with the object of waking

them by pulling the string. Toeing (pugilistic), toeing the scratch or mark, beginning the fight, that is, placing one's foot on the scratch or line in a prize fight. Wednesday was presentation day" at London University. The gentleman who gained the greatest applause on “ toeing the mark" before the Chancellor was William Waterloo Wellington Rolleston Napoleon Buonaparte Guelph Saunders,

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At Epsom, let coves who from White.

chapel hail, Drive their nags and their barrow close up to the rail.

-Sporting Times. Tofficky (popular), dressy, fine,

nice.

Toffishness (popular), explained by quotation.

Taking the average, it may be set down at ten for each of the two hundred, or two thousand slices in all-thick slices, bear in mind: anything under an inch thick would be regarded with contempt by the bony young barrowman, and perhaps with an uncomfortable suspicion that you have designs to inveigle him into the detestable ways of gentility. He calls it toffishness. He is peculiar in his views in this respect. -Greenwood: In Strange Company.

Togged (popular), dressed.

He was togg'd gnostically enough. — Scott: St. Ronan's Well. So I've togged myself up to the nines.

-Punch. In London many female servants seldom remain long in one situation; just long enough to get togged and fed up. Then my lady must have a spree for a few days. - Thor Fredur : Sketches from Shady Places.

Shakspeare has toged, gowned.

Or a broad grin extending from ear unto

ear, On the features of every soul he came

near; There was no taking refuge too, then, as

with us, On a slip-sloppy day, in a cab or a 'bus.

-Ingoldsby Legends. But take a pal's advice, and don't be over

nice, Though your suit of toggery ain't a very

flash 'un; You'd better far put up with the rig than

tear it up, And be measured for the latest“ parish" fashion. -.J. Greenwood: A Night in a

Workhouse. Toggy, togman (old cant), a coat. Togman (thieves), a cloak or

coat.

I towre the strummel trine upon thy nachbet and togman.-Harman : Caveat. Togs (common), clothes.

Look at his togs! Superfine cloth, and the heavy swell cut! Oh, my eye, what a game !-Dickens : Oliver Twist.

“It mightn't spoil some sort of togs," I replied, with a scornful glance at poor Sam's wretched rags. “I shouldn't like to get the soot over my clothes wot I wears of Sundays, so I tell yer. I'm going to have another suit to follow my trade in." -The Little Ragamuffins.

My friend could play the fiddle and declaim, and I can dance, whistle, and sing with anybody ; so, having obtained my pension, we bought an old violin and suit. able togs, and started to do a bit of nigger minstrel business in the country, where such things are nearly unknown.--Thor Fredur: Sketches from Shady Places.

Togs was used for garments in the time of Henry VIII. From the Anglo-Saxon tygan, or else from the same root with the Latin toga, a covering ; like tugurium, hut or roof. Indo

Toggery (popular and thieves),
clothing.
Next slipt off his bottom clo'ing,
And his ginger head topper gay.
Then his other toggery stowing,

Tol lol, &c.,
All with the swag I sneak away.

-Burrowes: Vidocq's Song. But in Edward the First's days, I very

much fear, Had a gay cavalier thought fit to appear In any such toggery—then 'twas term'd

"gear"He'd have met with a highly significant

sneer,

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working off sheets reckon their work by tokens of two hundred and fifty impressions.

Tol (old cant), a sword. Evidently

abbreviated from Toledo, when the blades manufactured in that town had a world-wide reputa

tion. Merrily over the common he flies, Fast and free as the rush of the rocket, His crape-covered vizard drawn over his

eyes, His tol by his side, and his pops in his pocket.

-Ainsworth: Rookwood. (Costermongers' back slang), stock, share, or lot. How is a man to sell fine cherries at 4d. a pound that cost him 34d., when there's a kid alongside of him a selling his tol at ad. a pound ?–Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Germanic teg, to cover ; hence tego, tegere. German dach, a roof. “Thatch," and the Greek otéyn, a roof, are of the same family. This word seems to be the same as the old term tugs, same meaning, as in under tug, a petticoat. Tug clothes, working clothes.

Also possibly from the AngloSaxon teog, material, stuff, and tege, a binding, tying (ligatura, r'exus). P'ygan (Boswell), to tie together. Togged out reminds us of teohjan, from the same root, signifying to adorn, trick out, exornare (Beowulf, 5871).

Latin toga. Toheno, tohereno (costermon

gers), pronounced tocheno or tochereno, very nice ; literally a transposition of “hot one.” Toke (popular and thieves), bread.

Same as “tack.” One night coming home to the crib where

he lived, Found two cripples a munching dry toke as they sat. -J. Greenwood: A Night in a

Workhouse.
For breakfast there is bread and scrap,

And something she calls tea;
I only know it's wet and warm

And disagrees with me;
I wouldn't mind so much for that

If the toke was not so thick,
For each slice is two inches high,
And hard as any brick.

-Broadside Ballad. Pieces of bread. He could devour as many surplus tokes as an elephant at the Zoo on an Easter Monday.-Evening News. Token (printers). Vide BUL

LOCK'S HEART. Printers in

Tol lol, happy, pretty well.

Toll-loll-lol1-kiss-me-dear (bird

fancier), explained by quotation. “Just the same," put in old Master Nosey Warren ; "just the same as the Middlesex finch calls hisself toll-loll-loll. kiss-me-dear; it's the nat'ral note of 'em." -Greenwood : In Strange Company. Toll-shop (provincial), a prison,

a variation of toll-booth. “The prison was so called in Cambridge, as it still is in Scotland. Corbel uses the word as a verb, and explains it in a note, “Idem quod Bocardo apud Oxon.' The English Dictionary gives it as meaning custom-house” (Lewis 0. Davies).

The Maior refused to give them the keys of the toll-booth, or town prison.

Fuller: History of Cambridge.

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Tolly (public schools), a candle; Tombstones (popular), largeteeth. from tallow.

Pawn tickets, all that remains Tolly up, to (Harrow School), to

of the departed property.

The collection for master amounted to keep a candle alight after the

44d., and a tombstone for ninepence on a gas has been turned off.

brown Melton overcoat. -Sporting Times. Toloben (old cant), the tongue. Tombstone style (printers), a Also, tollibon, tullibon. Possibly slang term to indicate a partifrom toll, to ring a bell, and bene, cular kind of display in setting well. This derivation is sup up-similar to that used in ported by similar metaphors: monumental inscriptions. English slang “clapper,” a

Tom-John, tonjon (Anglo-Indian), tongue, especiallya busy tongue;

a sort of sedan or portable chair. French slang “battant” (tongue of a bell), tongue; "avoir un Tommies (popular), a name for bon battant,” to be a great or tomatoes. loud talker; Italian cant“scam Now that the wholesome "love-apples,” panare” (literally to toll), to with their delicious sub-acid flavour, have talk loud. Or from tal (tell), and

become cheap, the masses in their thou

sands may be seen continually munching bene, well, or gypsy termination

them, not only because the tommies are ben or pen to every verbal noun. nice, but because they are red. - Daily

The gypsies use the term under Telegraph. the form of tálloben. Again,

Tommy (popular), bread, food. the term may owe its origin to

The usual name for food amongst tully, red silk, “red rag " being

navvies. Probably from Irish the modern phrase for tongue;

tiomallain, I eat. in French slang “chiffon rouge.”

One finger is what you've got to look Toloben rig, fortune-telling. out for. The job what Rip's got will Tolsery (old cant), a penny.

get us the coffee ; now, if we can find

summat else while he's a-doin' of it, that'll Literally the price of toll. “Tol

be the tommy; which I hopes we shall, sey” is provincial for a place cos coffee wirrout tonimy don't make where tolls were taken.

much of a breakfast. So keep your eyes

open, Smiffield.—The Little Ragamuffin. Tom and Jerry shop (popular), a

Also inferior. Tom seems to low drinking-shop.

enter into many disparaging Tomarter or tomato, a (Ameri phrases. The exchange of labour

can), “he caught a tomarter that for goods. Tommy-shop, a place time.” A substitute for “a tar where a variety of articles, mainly tar,” provided by Artemus Ward. food, are sold. From provincial

English tommy, provisions. Tom astoners (nautical), dash

The proprietor keeps a “tienda" or ing fellows. From astound or

tommy-shop on his estate, just as the "astony, to certy omyva). Australian squatter keeps his store at his Tom is tinker for great.

station.—Daily Telegraph.

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Also a baker's shop. Originally a store belonging to an employer whose workmen were obliged to take out part of their earnings in tommy or food.

Tommy Atkins (army), a familiar term given by soldiers to their pocket ledger or small accountbook. The origin of this name arose from every document, paper, &c., being headed, for convenience sake, “I, Tommy Atkins,” &c. In general parlance the term is applied to a soldier.

Tommy Dodd, in tossing, when the odd man either wins or loses, as per agreement (Hotten).

Tongs (American), an old word

used for boys' jackets and trousers. Probably a form of the old English togs, aided by the resemblance of trousers to tongs, in the forked shape.

(Medical), a familiar name amongst medical students for

the midwifery forceps. Tony catchy, tunnyketch,

tawnykertch (Anglo - Indian). In Madras the domestic watercarrier, generally a woman.

Tamil, tannir-kassi. Too big for his boots (theatrical), a phrase invented by the late F. B. Chatterton, manager of Drury Lane, to denote an actor who, having made a hit, gave himself airs, and became obstre

perous and presuming. Too forth-putting (American),

too demonstrative or “too previous.”

T'he Taylor gush in Tennessee is getting tiresome. At the latest “rally" both were presented with pathetic speeches, and Bob got a bass viol of red roses and Alf a ship of white roses, and both were nominated for Vice-President on the next Presidential tickets. These gentlemen are quite too forth-putting. The public is fatigued and would fain seek repose. Washington Post.

Tommy rot (common), rubbish,

nonsense. Wen he sez my god's “go"-well he's 'it

it. Great Scott! wot is life without

"go?” But “loud, slangy, vulgar”? No, 'ang

it, young man, this is-well, there,

it's low. Me vulgar! a Primroser, Charlie, a true

“Anti-Radical” pot ! No, excuse me, St. J., I admire you ; but this is all dashed tommy rot.

-Punch.

Tom-pats, in canting, shoes. In gypsy, feet. Hindu tal-pat, trampled on. To patter-alay in gypsy, is to trample on, alay, being an abbreviation of talé or tal. (Old cant), rum tom-pat, a real clergyman, in opposition to the “patrico,” which see.

Toofered (gypsy), mended.

Tacho, true. But an old coat can hold out better than a man. If a man gets a hole in him, he dies: but his chukko (coat) can be toofered and sivved apré (mended and sewed up for ever).– The English Gypsies. Tool (studios), artists give this

appellation to their brushes. (Popular), a poor tool, a clumsy

Tom Topper (popular), freshwater mariner, ferryman. Also “Tom Tug."

Tooler— Top.

351

fellow, a bad hand at anything, a whip. (Burglar), a small boy whom housebreakers employ to enter a house by a small aperture.

Too much bag (American), need.

less disquisition, padding, superfluity. There is a great deal of bag and a strong sense of too-muchness in this tale. It bulgeth.-Western Newspaper.

Tooler (thieves), a pickpocket; moll-tooler, female pickpocket. To tool is applied to stealing, picking pockets, and burglary; derived beyond doubt from the gypsy word tool, to hold, handle, or take. In all the Continental Romany dialects it is tulliwawa.

Toother (pugilistic), a blow on

the mouth.

I found ... two knuckles cut to the bone almost, so I must have got in one pretty good toother.-Sporting Life. Tooth-music (popular), mastica

tion. Toot, on a (American), raising

the devil, making a noise, on a spree. Toot, the devil (English provincial, Wright). Toot, to blow a horn; Anglo - Saxon tutan, to swell, to grow; tanta (i.e., toot), to murmur, sound; getete, show, ostentation ; totjam, eminere, micare, to cut a shine. All agreeing with the modern forms.

Tool, to (general), to drive, to hold and manage the reins, to handle the ribbons." Probably from an association with tools and skilful handling. To do a thing in workmanlike style. Suggested to be from the gypsy tül, indicative present tullivava (vide TOOLER), I hold, also generally applied to driving. Tul tiro chib, hold your tongue; tul o solivaris, hold the bridle, i.e., ride. He could tool a'coach. -Lytton: The Caxtons. A coach he'd tool. You've coaches still, I've heard that they're not driven ill, But where's the fun without the spill?

Says Grandfather. -C. H. Ross: The Husband's Boat. Mr. Carnegie was taking the peace gentlemen with him, and he is well known to be a generous host. Who has not read of his coaching tours in England, when he tooled Mr. Matthew Arnold, Mr. John Morley, Mr. William Black, and other men of light and leading behind his teams of prancing nags.--Pall Mall Gazette.

(University), to tool along, to go or cause to go at a great

Too-too (society), exceedingly, an

expletive. Thomas Scott, in his “ Philomythia," employs this phrase, which, after an oblivion of nearly three centuries, has been revived. Speaking of the weathercock, he says, “his head was too - too great," and again, “his tail was too - too weak,” referring to its irregularities.

Tootsies (common), feet, those of

ladies and children in particular.

Top! a signal among tailors and

sempstresses for snuffing the candle. One cries top! and all the others follow; he who last

pace.

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pronounces this word has to snuff the candle (Hotten). An abbreviation of “top the glim.” To top is to burn off the long cotton end of a candle. (American), first-rate. An abbreviation of “tip-top."

The third suddenly becomes a very swash-buckler of a young woman. Hitherto she has spoken English; now she falls into an unknown dialect. “How is your mother, Jenny?" she is asked by the visitor. “Oh, top!”—The Youth's Conpanion. Top-dressing (journalistic), a

large-type introduction to a report, generally written by a man of higher literary attainments than the ordinary reporter who follows with the details (Hotten). (Common), doing the hair, coiffure.

The Roman Emperor Caracalla, when he made a progress in Germany, tried to conciliate the fierce Teutons by having his sable locks cropped close to his head, and assuming a top-dressing in the shape of a tawny rig.-Daily Telegraph. The coarseness of thy tresses is distress

ing, With grease and raddle firmly coales

Top-heavy (common), drunk. Un

steady, like anything having the upper part too heavy for the

lower, as of a boat or ship. Top-joint (thieves' back slang), a

pint of beer. Top-lights (nautical), the eyes.

In French slang, “quinquets;"
Spanish cant, “lanternas ;”

Italian, “lampante.”
Topped (thieves and popular),

hanged, “may I be topped !” Topper (common), excellent, as a

topper at billiards. The toppers,

swells, fashionable people. But I twigged that the toppers left early; Yours truly ain't 'ooked for a flat!

-Punch. (Thieves), head topper, a hat or wig. (Popular), tobacco left in the bowl of a pipe, a tall hat.

(Pugilistic), a blow on the head. Vile Jem, with neat left-handed stopper, Straight threatened Tommy with a topper.

-Ainsworth : Rookwood. Topper hunter (popular), poor

men who pick up cigar ends and pieces of tobacco, which

they chop up. Topping (popular), elegant, swell,

great. (Nautical), pretentious, as topping the officer; also

fine, gallant. Topping cheat (old cant), the

gallows. Topping, hanging, and

cheat, a thing. Top-sawyer (general), a term denoting excellence, superiority. It is derived from the rule of the sawpits; the top man has

cing,

I cannot laud thy system of top-dress

ing.
-J. B. Stephens: To a Black Gin.

Shakspeare uses the word top
for head :
All the starred vengeance of Heaven fall
On her ungrateful top.
Topee (Anglo-Indian), a hat of

any kind. Hindu topi. Incorrectly limited in popular English parlance to the sola (not solar)

helmet. Top o’reeb (costermongers' back

slang), pot of beer.

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to work harder and is more responsible for the job than the man who stands below. This term is of many special applications. (Sporting), a renowned horse, that excels others in speed and endurance.

There will be at least a dozen runnersmore, probably, should the favourite de. velop more fibrine in the blood-and far more interest attaches to the race than in years past, when there has usually been a top-sawyer in the field.-Bird o' Freedom.

Formerly a dandy, an exquisite. When the perfumed mane of the Persian lion flowed over his high coat-collar, and in conjunction with an exuberant pointed beard, imparted a formidable ferocity to his strongly-marked lineaments, his contemporary, the London top-sawyer, went about clean-shaven, save for a mutton-chop whisker or so, and with hair sedulously curled but symmetrically trimmed.-Daily Telegraph.

(Costers), the largest and best fruit placed at the top of a basket. (Tailors), a collar. Also applied to the fore part of a garment.

(Thieves), an expert thief, one who has gained distinction among his fellows by his achievements.

Wasn't he always a top-sawyer among you all? Is there one of you that could touch him, or come near him on any scent? --Dickens : Oliver Twist.

They planned their work and executed it without any assistance; not because they declined to associate with the old ones-as the candidate for platform employment hastened to add, with undisguised contempt for the whole race of paltry pretenders—but because they were unacquainted with any of the school, being themselves green hands and novices, who were ambitious “to be top-sawyers when as yet they were fit for nothing but to pick up chips.” —). Greenwood: A Converted Burglar.

(Common), a rich person. “I'll marry a top-sawyer,” he used to say, whenever his uncle broached the question of his settlement in life. “Why, bless ye, it's the same tackle and the same fly that takes the big fish and the little one."—Whyte-Melville : M. or N.

Top shuffling (gambling cheats),

explained by quotation. He will make up the hand he wants out of the discards, or else hold out the necessary cards until he gets enough, and it is his deal. Then he drops it on the top of the pack, and performs a very neat little piece of work known as top-shuffling which consists in shuffling the lower half of the pack over the upper half without disturbing it. When this is over the hand he wants is still on top. The cut, of course, buries it, but by a very simple movement he gets the cards back in their original condition. This is called "shifting the cut," and can be done with one hand or two. Nothing then remains but to go ahead and deal. Dexterity in over-shuffling and shifting the cut are the two things

rs cultivate in all their leisure hours, and with these accomplishments, and coolness and nerve, little else is required.-Star.

A great person. He had paid the postboys, and travelled with a servant like a top-sawyer --Thack. cray: The Newcomes.

Also applied to a thing.
VOL. II.

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354

Topsman—Tot.

and tortle. Early English, tortyll, to twist or wriggle away.

Tom is the one to patter flash,

And make the coveys laugh; With whites and tops he cuts a dash, And like a beak can chaff.

-Pierce Egan': Book of Sports.

Tortoise, Pump and (army), “the

38th Foot, on account of their great sobriety and equally remarkable slowness when once stationed at Malta” (Chambers's Journal).

Topsman (thieves), the execu

tioner. Vide TOPPED. Topsy - boozy (popular), very

drunk.

Yes, that's it, you laughter-loving jokers and corkers! If you get “screwed,” topsy-boozy, or "three sheets in the wind” in a dedicated road, the blue-coated warriors may nab you.— Toby. Top.yob (thieves' back slang), a

pot-boy. Top your boom. Vide Boom. To rights (common), in the

proper way, completely. Vide RIGHTS. The comedy provides you with hilarity to

rights! With Lottie Venne and Penley in the wild Arabian Nights.

-Fun. Torpids, the eight-oared races at Oxford rowed in the spring, in contradistinction to the summer eights. It is in these races that the freshmen are able to distinguish themselves, and qualify for their college boat in the

next term. Torrac (costermongers), back

slang for a carrot. Tortle (American), a Philadelphia expression meaning go or walk away, or “turtle off.” In the “Charcoal Sketches,” by J. C. Neal, one man advises another to put on his “skeets" (skates)

Tosh (public and military schools),

a foot-bath, any bath. Perhaps a corruption of "toe-wash;” but it is curious to note that in Turkish-Persian tasi is a copper basin used in the bath, from which “tosher" (which see) is probably derived.

A tosh pan, an important utensil for periodical ablutions on stated nights, is also provided.-Pascoe: Life in our Public Schools.

(Royal Military Academy), the tosh-pond is the bathing-pond. Tosher (nautical), a man who

steals copper sheathing from ships' bottoms, or from dockyard stores. Probably from tasi, a copper basin in Turkish-Persian. (Oxford), an unattached student. (Gypsy, obsolete),food,

victuals. Hindu tosha, provisions. Toshing (nautical). Vide TOSHER.

Tosh-soap (Charterhouse School),

cheese. Vide TOSH.

Toss (Billingsgate), a measure of

sprats. Tot (popular), a small glass.

(South African), a drink. Tot, or tots, old (army), od bones, the kitchen refuse which

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is often bartered to some bar toted around on the back of a gentleman rack sutler who supplies in

from Illinois.-Mr. Donnely's Speech in

Congress on the Impeachment of President exchange the crockery for the

Johnson. barrack men. One of the slang names of the 17th Lancers Tote, to (American), to carry or “the Death or Glory Boys" bear. Peculiar formerly to the is the Old Tots, because they South. Bartlett says that it carry the device of a skull and has been “absurdly enough decrossbones. (School), tots, addi rived from the Latin tollit,” and tion sums; to tot up, to add

thinks it is of African origin. up, abbreviation of "total.”

Anglo-Saxon teohan, teon, to

lead, carry, draw. “ Teah his Tote (popular), a hard drinker.

nett on lande'--"Drew his net From old English totted, drunken. on land.” Also to take; hence As well we'd another old chum,

tôtehan, “altrahere," and tohte, By all of his mates called the Tote,

“expedito.” Hence in provincial So named on account of the rum He constantly put down his throat.

English tath, taketh. It is not -He Hasn't Got Over it Yet impossible that the Dutch tot, (Francis & Day).

to, or unto, may have influenced A teetotaller, an abstainer

the formation of this word. from all intoxicating drinks. Dey say fetch an' tote 'stead of bring and You'll always find the sober Tote

carry, With a few pounds at command,

An' dat dey call grammar !—by de Lawd He can buy a house to live in,

Harry!
Or else a lot of land.

-Old Negro Song. His home is peace and happiness,

I toted up a load, and went back and His children and his wife

sat down on the bow of the skiff to rest.-They never know keen hunger,

Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn.
Or hear wild drunken strife.

T'other side of Jordan (Ameri-
I think I've shown, dear friends,

can), a phrase expressive of noDrink leads to sin, while Temperance

where, the Unknown, or “gone To every cornfort tends. So look upon these pictures :

into de Ewigkeit.” From a The Toper and the Tote,

popular song of Methodist And see which has most happiness,

origin. And which the better coat. --Broadside Ballad: The Toper and “Oh, I looked to de north an' I looked to the Tote.

de souf,

And I saw a mighty charret a comin', Toted (American), led, or more Wid forty grey hosses a-crackin' on de

lead, commonly carried, to be made to

To take us to de odder side of Jordan. act not of one's own free will.

Oh, take off yer coat and roll up yer I cannot think Mr. Ulysses S. Grant will

sleeve, degenerate into becoming a puppet to be Jordan am a hard road to trabble ; played by wires held in the hand by gen

Take off yer coat and roll up yer sleeve, tlemen from Illinois, or that he will de

Jordan am a hard road to trabbel, I generate into a kind of hand-organ to be

believe."

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T'other-sider (Australian popular, but growing obsolete), a convict. Cf. “Sydney-sider," “ Van Demonian,” &c. There never were any convicts transported to Victoria after its erection into a separate colony ; hence they can afford to speak contemptuously of convicts from the Sydney side, or Van Diemen's Land. The inhabitants of that island, to escape the odious old convict associations, have changed its

name to Tasmania. Tot rakers (popular), men who

go about picking up odds and ends from refuse heaps. Also " tot - pickers.” From tot, anything very small. Tottie (popular), a girl, a fast

girl. A term of endearment,

from English tot, anything small. Totting (popular), explained by

quotation. Pr’aps he's goin' a-tottin' (picking up bones).-Greenwood : The Little Ragamuffins.

Vide TOT RAKERS. Tottle, tottlish (American), from “totter” (Bartlett). To walk unsteadily. Anglo-Saxon tealt, vacillating, unsteady ; tealtrjan mid fótum, tottering with the

feet. Totty-headed (popular), slow to

understand. English provincial tot, a fool, i.e., one with little brains; Suffolk dialect, totty,

little. Touch (common), synonymous

with cost or “damage ;” a

penny ride in an omnibus is a penny touch. At night went to the ball at the Angel, a guinea touch.-Phillip : Diary.

(Eton School), a present of money. Formerly a cant word

for a slight essay (Swift). Toucher (coaching), as near as a toucher, as near as possible without actually touching. The old jarveys, to show their skill, used to drive against things so closely as absolutely to touch, yet without injury. This they called a toucher, or “touchand-go,” which was thence applied to anything which was within an ace of ruin

(Hotten). Touch, to (thieves), to steal or Touch

to succeed in getting. One day I took the rattler from Broad Street to Acton. I did not touch them, but worked my way to Shepherd's Bush. --Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

(Common), to borrow money. He was down on his luck altogether, dead broke, his clobber seedy. He was altogether a woeful object when he ran against a wealthy friend whom he thought against a wealthy fri to touch. “No, my boy," said the friend, “I never give or lend money."—Bird o' Freedom.

Tough (American), a low ruffian.

The tough, his northern appellation changed to "hoodlum,” continues to flourish in San Francisco.- Daily Telegraph. Toughs, old (army), the 103rd

Regiment. The nickname was gained by hard service in India. Some of the nicknames of other regiments are as fol

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lows: — “Royal Goats," or The tout being haled before him, said “ Nanny Goats,” the 23rd; the

that he had already "got three races" for “Blood Suckers," the 63rd ;

his master that morning.--Truth. “ Mud Larks,” the Royal Engi Touting ken (old cant), a bar in neers. The “Blind Half-Hun a public-house. Probably one dredth,” “Fighting Fiftieth," frequented by inn touts. or “Dirty Half-Hundredth,” is

Touzle (popular), the whisker the 50th Regiment. The “Supple Twelfth," the 12th Lancers;

worn bushy, or mass of frizzled,

ragged hair. From tousle, to the “Dumpies," the 20th

tug at, to entangle, rumple. Hussars; the “Cherry Pickers," the ith Hussars; the “Ragged

With spreads of pink shoulders; slim twis

ters with touzles of tow-coloured 'air. Brigade,” the 13th Hussars (not

-Punch. as incorrectly stated under

Tow (Shrewsbury School), a run
RAGGED BRIGADE); “Pontius

in “hare and hounds."
Pilate's Bodyguard” (the oldest
of British regiments), the ist

After that last “all up,” there is a tow

or continuous run of from one to three Foot; the “Rib-breakers," the

miles. — Everyday Life in our Public 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards; Schools. the “Slashers," the 28th Foot;

Towelling, to give a (common), the “Cheesemongers,” the Regi

to thrash. Provincial English ment of Household Cavalry ;

towl, to beat with a stick. In the “Steel Backs," the 58th ;

Norfolk a man who has been the “Death or Glory Men," the

cudgelled is said to have been 17th Lancers; the “Excellers,”

“rubbed down with a blackthe 40th; the "Bloody Eleventh,"

thorn towel.” the irth of Foot; the “Die

Frankly shaking his cane, bid him hold Hards,” the 57th; the "Old

his tongue, otherwise he would dust his Dirty Shirts,” the worst. The cassock for him. “I have no pretensions Military Train were the “Mur to such a valet,” said Tom; “but if you dering Thieves;" the “Sprin

should do me that office, and over-heat

yourself, I have here a good oaken towel gers,” the 62nd; the “Sweeps,"

at your service."-Smollett: Humphrey Rifles, &c.

Clinker.

I got a towelling, but it did not do me Toure, towre (old cant), see.

much good.--Mayhew: London Labour Bing out bien morts, and toure and toure, and the London Poor. Bing out of the Romevile fine. --The English Rogue. Towels, lead (old cant), pistols,

with which to wipe a man out Tout (turf), an agent on the look

of existence. out for any information as to any circumstances as to a horse's Tower-Hill vinegar (old), the capabilities or condition, or for block. Executions used very anything else, hotels, railways, frequently to take place on theatres, &c.

Tower-Hill.

358

Town bull—Trafficking.

Town bull (old), a bawd, a very

licentious man, popular among women.

During what is known as toy-time, when the work of the next morning and the week's composition have to be prepared.

-Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Townie (army), a comrade who

comes from the same town or part of the world. In French pays. Town - lout (Rugby School), a

pupil who resides in the town with his parents.

Tow-pows (popular), Grenadiers

(Hotten).

Towzery gang (popular), swin

dlers who have sale-rooms for mock auctions of cheap and worthless goods. From towze or touse, to make a noise, a disturbance; towser, one that makes a bustle or stir. Hence "Towser,” a name for a dog.

Tracks, to make (common). Vide

MAKE TRACKS.

You will be pleased to make tracks, and vanish out of these parts for ever.-C. Kingsley: Two Years Ago. He said he was a banker, did our smart

Teutonic Max, And many a quid he'd given her, before he

made his tracks. 'Twas only when the "thick ’uns" proved but Hanoverian Jacks That she knew he was a "smasher.”

-Sporting Times. Track up the dancers, to (thieves),

to go upstairs. Dancers, stairs,

or flight of stairs. Trade-mark (common), a scratch

or wound in the face. I know what the old woman is when she

is drunk, She pawns everything in the place; And if I correct her for what she has done, She draws her trade-mark down my face.

-C. Cornell: Father, Take a Run. (Servant-girls), a servant's cap. Tradesman, a regular (popular),

a term of encomium meaning one who thoroughly understands his business, whatever his profession (honest or the reverse) may be.

Toy (thieves), a watch; white toy,

silver watch ; red toy, gold watch. He was very tricky (clever) at getting a poge or a toy, but he would not touch toys because we was afraid of being turned over (searched).-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Toy and tackle, watch with chain attached. Toy-getter, a watch stealer.

Toys (Winchester College), ex

plained by quotation.

The clock striking seven, each junior retires to his toys or bureau for an hour and a half during what is known as “toy. time.” – Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Trafficking (prison), the interchange of money, prohibited articles, food, between prison officers and prisoners, and be. tween prisoners themselves. The practice in the former case

Toy - time (Winchester College),

evening preparation.

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Tranklements, trollybobs (popu

lar), entrails, intestines. Given

by Wright as “trolly-bags.” Tranko (circus), the elongated barrel which a performer manages with his feet, and keeps up in the air while lying on his back. It is said to be from the Spanish tranco, a threshold, as the shape is almost like that of one. But the ordinary Spanish word for threshold is umbral. The trick is very ancient, and was originally performed by kicking a spear in the air. Translated (popular), second

hand, as applied to shoes or boots repaired and sold by a cobbler. Baeker had to limp in his socks to the New Cut, and purchase a pair of translated crab-shells to go home in.-Sporting Times.

(Tailors), is said of a coat which is cut down and turned ; also a garment made to fit a smaller man. Translator (popular), a cobbler, one who turns worn-out shoes into good ones, or “as good as new.” It was an established word more than a century ago. Sewell, 1757, gives the Dutch schoenlappen as its equivalent; literally shoe-patcher. It was not likely to occur to me that Sunday morning when I interviewed the kind-hearted old translator of old boots into new ones, in his kitchen in Leather Lane.-J. Greenwood: The Woodchopper's Wedding.

Translators are also second. hand boots.

Train up, to (popular), to hurry. Tra-la-la (popular), the wealthiest

and most extravagant class of dissipated men. The “bucks of the very first water”-themusichall ideals. I will not sing of city swells,

Your La-di-dahs,
At such cheap toffs we've laughed enough
I sing of swells you know so well,

The Tra-la-las!
The style's the same,—but better stuff,

With glossy hat and spotless boots,
From top to toe, quite comme il faut,

You know them by their perfect suits From far-famed Poole of Savile Row.

-Music-Hall Ballad : Tra-lal-la. Trampolin (circus), a double

spring - board. This seems to be a very old term, from tram, a small bench (generally used for setting a tub on), Herefordshire, and poling, a plank. Trampoose (American), to walk

out all over town,” gadding here and there. From tramp, and an affix very common in America.

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Trash a trail, to, is an expression

used in the West, meaning to conceal the direction one has taken by walking in a stream, or in fact taking water in any way. The fox, deer, and other animals understand this mode of escape as well as man (Bartlett's Dictionary).

Trat (popular), a pretty girl, a

“tart.” Probably an anagram of "tart.”

To smell trap, explained by quotation.

They can discover the detective in his innocent-looking smock-frock or bricklayer jacket, while he is yet distant the length of a street. They know him by his step, or by his clumsy affectation of unofficial loutishness. They recognise the stiff-neck in the loose neckerchief. They smell trap and are superior to it. -Seven Curses of London.

"You do not understand tran » "vous n'y entendez pas finesse” (Boyer's Dictionary, 1748). It is

misj It is worth observing that, in gypsy drab or trap (which words were pronounced alike by the first gypsies who came from Germany to England) is used for medicine or poison, and the employment of the latter is regarded, even at the present, as the greatest Romany secret. A gypsy said, “If you know drab, you're up to everything ; for there's nothing goes above that.” (Common), that trap is down, the attempt is a failure.

Travel in the market (sport),

how backed, what the odds are about a horse.

These are to be found in the well-doing and health of horses, in the way in which they have stood training, or in the manner in which they travel in the market, and a host of other things. -Sporting Life.

Traveller (tramps), a tramp.

There are many individuals in lodg. ing-houses who are not regular patterers or professional vagrants, being rather, as they term themselves, travellers.-Mayhew.

Traps (thieves), a very old term

for the police, detective force.

(Thieves), a thief who goes from town to town.

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Traveller, to tip the (common),

to humbug. This refers to
the wonderful tales, like those
of “Baron Munchausen,” some.
times told by travellers.

Aha! dost thou tip me the traveller, my boy ?-Smollett: Sir L. Greaves. Traverse the cart, to. Vide

CART.
Tray (thieves), three months' im-

prisonment; obviously from the
French, possibly via the lingo
of the card-table. Also tray
of moons.
The other gentleman remained, was dis-
covered, and did a tray of moons.--Sport-
ing Times.
Tray soddy mits (popular), three-

pence halfpenny, a corruption of trois et demi, used to express the amount of points in whist in Clerkenwell, Saffron Hill, and the districts where there are a mixture of nationalities. Treacle (popular), to talk about

treacle, to talk about love and love affairs. (Publicans), thick, bad port. Treacle-moon (popular), the

honeymoon. Treaders (popular), shoes. Dutch

thieves' slang, treder; from treden, to tread, step. Evidently

from “ tread.” Tread the boards, to (common),

to appear on the scene in order

to compete at anything. Treat (popular), he's such a treat,

i.e., he is such a cunning person or animal, such a nuisance.

Treddle, a cant term for a prostitute (Wright); from tread, the

copulation of fowls. Tree-moon (tinker), three months,

a“ drag.” Vide TRAY. Trek, to (South African), to move away, depart. The expression “ let's trek,” i.e., let's go away, is used in England. A figure of speech. Properly to yoke oxen to a waggon.

The Boers of the Transvaal do not like it at all. They are selling their lands and trekking away into regions unpolluted by the presence of the miner.-Pall Mall Gazette. Trials (Harrow School), examina

tions. Triangles (popular), a corruption

of delirium tremens. Trick and tie (sport), to be trick and tie, or touch and go, is to be equal in a race, or other

athletic performance. Tricks (Texas), one's personal belongings; thus one has tricks instead of things in a house, and similarly, tricks and not

baggage on a journey. Trick with a hole in it, a (Ame

rican), an extraordinary device or performance. “When it comes to making a duck-stew, I can show you a trick with a

hole in it.” Trike (common), a tricycle ;

triking, cycling. Do you bike or trike? do you ride a bicycle or tricycle. Trim a jacket, to (nautical), to

rope-end the wearer.

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Trimmer (cricketers), a ball de

livered in very good style. (Common), explained by quotation. What is a trimmer?_"A man who runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds," who tries to face two sides, and sometimes several sides at the one time; one who says to-day what he tries to explain away to-morrow, and re-explains away again the day following-a jelly-fish man, who is a reformer, and at the same time a fossil. -Toby. Trine, to (old cant), to hang. Now toure the cove that cly'd your duds Upon the chats to trine.

— The English Rogue. From old English to trine, to put in the aspect of a trine (old English trine, triple), a triad, alluding to the three beams of the gallows, formerly termed the “ triple tree,” or “ mare with three legs.” In gypsy trin (three) bongo drums means the

cross or the crooked road. Trinkerman (nautical), the

Thames tidal fisherman. Trip (theatrical), a dance. Pas de

deux, by harlequin and columbine, so called because they trip across the stage from one side to the other, and then make their exit. This dance usually commences each scene in what is called the harlequinade. (Thieves), a prostitute, concubine. Possibly in allusion to tripping about. The same idea occurs in old English trapes, a slattern; from trape, to walk about idly and sluttishly (German trappen). “Trot,” an old woman, " troll,” “trull,” &c.

It was at one of these places I palied in with a trip, and stayed with her until I got smugged. — Horsley : Jottings from Jail. I was fullied, and then got three stretch

for the job, And my trip-cuss the day as I seen

herShe sold off my home to some pals in her

mob
For a couple of foont and ten deaner.

– The Referee. Tripes (popular), the belly. Triple-tree (old cant), the gallows. For whether I sink in the foaming flood,

Or swing on the triple-tree,
Or die in my bed as a Christian should,
Is all the same to me!

-Meister Karl's Sketch-Book. Tripper up (thieves), a thief. Troc (London), the Trocadero

Music Hall.
He murmured o'er a glass of hock,

“It's barely nine o'clock-
Shall it be the Royal, Pav., or Troc?”
And echo answered, “Troc!"

-Sporting Times. Trolly-wags (popular), trousers,

breeches. A corruption of the word trousers by costermongers, who naturally have the trolly uppermost in their minds as being the means of their getting a livelihood, and a further facetious distortion of bags. Compare the synonym “trucks." Or possibly from provincial

“trolly-bags,” intestines, tripe. Tronk (South African). This is

a Cape Dutch expression for gaol, just as in English a prison is called a “stone jug." He informed me that he had just been in the tronk, and on my asking why, re

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plied, “Oh, for fighting and telling lies!”
- Lady Duff Gordon's Letters from the
Cape.
Tros - dab (costermongers' back

slang), “ I've had a regular tros

dab,” i.e., bad sort of day. Trosseno (costers), back slang for

one sort, a “bad one." “He's a regular scab!” cried another ; and a coster declared he was “a trosseno, and no mistake!”—Mayhew. Trotter (University), a tailor's man who goes round for orders. In French slang, “trottin” is a young girl employed by dressmakers to do errands. Trotter boxes (popular), shoes. Trotter cases (popular and

thieves), shoes or boots.

“If the tottering Edifice were to be hanged privately, I presume they would not allow his sorrowing survivors to cling to his trotter cases," plaintively murmured Alexandry, the Blue-Eyed Blossom.-Ally Sloper's Half-Holiday. Trot, to (auctions), to run up, i.e.,

bid against. (Thieves), to steal in broad daylight. (Common), to trot out, to draw one out in order to bring into evidence his capability or foibles, the simile being a horse that is trotted up and down by a horsedealer in

the presence of a purchaser. Trout, Nor-loch (old Scottish

cant), a leg of mutton. Other
quaint terms for different kinds
of food are, “German duck,"
a sheep's head stuffed with
onions, a dish much affected
by the German sugar-bakers in
the East End of London ; a

“Bombay duck" is a species of dried fish in Western India. Shrimps are “Gravesend sweetmeats ;” a red herring is a “ pheasant,” a “ Yarmouth capon,” also “Norfolk capon," “Dunbar wethers," or“Gourock ham.” Potatoes are “ Irish apricots” or “Munster plums,” &c. “Albany beef” in America is sturgeon ; " Cape Cod tur. key” is cod. Herrings are “Taunton turkeys” or “ Digby

chickens.” Truck (nautical), a hat. From

the cap on the top of the mast. (American), odd bits and ends, rubbish, plunder of little value. From provincial English truck, rubbish. No use to take truck and leave money. -Mark Twain : Huckleberry Finn.

It also means by extension bad food, and corresponds in this instance to the English “scran,” broken victuals, food; from scrans, refuse.

Trucks (popular), trousers. Syno

nymous with “ trolly - wags,” which see. True inwardness (American). It

has always been the fashion in Boston to affect a kind of transcendental metaphysical language, and “the true inwardness” of anything is a term probably derived by some Carlyleist from the German innerlichkeit. It is also now used in England. Mr. Gerald Massey, the poet, who knows all the true inwardness of the how and the why, the when and the where

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Trunk, shove his (old cant), to

go away, trunk being the body. Trūppo (gypsy), the body, the

trunk. Trushull (gypsy), a cross. Sup

posed to be derived from triçula, the trident of Siva. Vide Pott's “ Thesaurus.” Try a smile. Vide INVITATIONS

TO DRINK.

Truk, a prostitute of the lowest

class, defined by Grose as “a soldier's or tinker's female companion,” and in Hotten's Slang Dictionary as “a dirty, slatternly woman and prostitute, the word being a corruption of troll, or trollop.” In reality, the derivation can be traced to old English trug, a prostitute ; “ trug.

ging-place," a whore-house. Trump, a colloquialism signifying

an excellent person, a fine fellow, from the card term (French triomphe). It verges on slang, but can hardly be classified as

such. He passes by Waithman's emporium for

shawls, And, merely just catching a glimpse of St. Paul's,

Turns down the Old Bailey,

Where in front of the jail, he Pulls up at the door of the gin-shop, and

gaily Cries, “What must I fork out to-night,

my trump, For the whole first-floor of the Magpie and

-Ingoldsby Legends. I stands a quart, like the trump as I are.-Bird o' Freedom.

Trying it on a dog (American),

a metaphor, as of anything of a doubtful nature put to the test by first giving some to a dog.

“Bootle's Baby” will on the 7th of May be produced somewhere in the provinces. This is what the Americans call trying it on a dog; if the dog don't die, the baby will come up to London and be on view at 'the Circus later on.-Sporting Times. Tub, very modern slang for a morning bath. The word has been adopted across the Channel. When I got home, and had my tub, and looked at myself in the glass, I found my frontispiece much disfigured. -Sporting Life.

Formerly a bath was termed a bathing-tub.

Stump?”

Trumped (common), defeated by

superior skill in a device or scheme. Gambling supplies many, like “within an ace," "played out,” trumped, and “euchred."-Standard.

Tubbing (University), boating,

generally in a broad boat, called a tub.

If“up” at the University, we will probably pass our time between “grinding hard” and tubbing on the river. --- Morning Advertiser.

So to the river he next day went, and made his first essay in a tub.-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

Also before a crew take to their racing craft they have

Trunks(theatrical), short breeches worn over tights. Also bathing drawers.

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some preliminary practice in a wide pair-oared boat, called a tub pair. This practice is called tubbing. The same term is also applied to the coaching given to new carsmen. (Prison), imprisonment. “Nantes from the Rents (Fuller's or Tullwood's Rents in Holborn), smugged to rites, pilled, expects a tubbing ;”.

. inscription in a prison cell. Tub-man, an appointment given

to a barrister practising in the old Exchequer Court, which gave him a precedence in all “motions,” or applications to the judge. This was a great advantage to its possessor, and was always given to one who had a good practice in that

court. Tubs (American cadet), a sobriquet for a very corpulent man, one who, so to speak, possesses

a self-contained corporation. Tub-thumper (common), a street

corner parson. “But I know a lady friend, an awful nice girl, who's out of an engagement"

But the tub-thumper had fled.-Sporting Times.

Dr. — is a frothy tub-thumper, whose sermons (they are published in one of the London “religious ” weeklies) are models of what pulpit eloquence should not be.Evening News.

“ Tub-preacher” is an old term for a ranting, dissenting preacher. Also“ tub-drubber.”

Business and poetry agree as ill together as faith and reason; which two latter, as has been judiciously observ'd by the fam'd tub-drubber of Covent Garden, can never be brought to set their horses together.-7. Brown's Works.

Tub-thumping (common), street

preaching. Another, who waxed rather warm, was requested not to do any tub-thumping.– Funny Folks. Tuck (schoolboys), food, especi

ally sweet-stuff, pastry.

The slogger looks rather sodden, as if he didn't take much exercise and ate too much tuck.-Hughes: Tom Brown's Schooldays.

To tuck is a provincialism signifying to eat, hence tuck ; tuck-shop, a pastry cook-shop.

Come along down to Sally Harrowell's; that's our school-house tuck-shop. She bakes such shining murphies.-Hughes: Tom Brown's Schooldays. Tuck-'em-fair (old cant), place of

execution. From tuck-up, to hang. He was tucked-up so neat and pretty.---. Death of Socrates. Tuck in your twopenny, a re

commendation by boys playing at leap-frog to the one who

stoops to bend his head. Tuck-man (mercantile), the part

ner who brings the money to a business is so called. From

tuck, food. Tuck on, to (popular), to tuck on

a price is to charge exorbitantly without reference to the

real value of an article. Tuck out, tuck in (boys), ex1 plained by quotation.

The understood terms were a tuck out, which in Hale's Street is short and simple language for as much as can be eaten.Greenwood: In Strange Company. Tuft (University), explained by

quotation.

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The lad ... followed with a kind of proud obsequiousness all the tufts of the university.—Thackeray: Shabby-Genteel Story.

As tuft and tuft-hunters have become household words, it is perhaps needless to tell any one that 'the gold tassel is the distinguishing mark of a nobleman.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Tuft-hunter (society), any one

who seeks after and hangs on to the society of people of title. The derivation of the word is from the tuft or gold tassels the noblemen and fellow commoners used to wear at the University. The expression is now general in society. He was at no time the least of a tufthunter, but rather had a marked natural indifference to tufts.-Carlyle : Life of Sterling At last a lugubrious crew

Rode pensively over the plain,
Composed of the tuft-hunters, who

No Jubilee honours could gain.
Levy-Lawson, he headed the train,
And as they moved gloomily by

The band played a sorrowful strain ;
The soldiers were ordered to cry

Boo-hoo!
The soldiers were ordered to cry!

-Funny Folks. Tug (Winchester College), usual,

ordinary, common, stale, as tug-clothes, every day clothes. Also stale news. (Eton), a colleger or boy on the foundation. Tug was supposed to be short for tug-mutton, as the collegers were then allowed by the college statutes to have no meat but mutton.

The long-looked for St. Andrew's Day arrives, when the great match of collegers, or, as the small oppidan would term it, tugs, and oppidans is to be played. -- Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

Tuggery (Eton), explained by

quotation. My interlocutor was a red - headed, freckled little boy of eleven, who had come from Aberdeen. "to try for tuggery," that is, to try and pass on to the foundation as a King's scholar. — Brinsley Richard: Seven years at Eton. Tulip (roughs), “Go it, my tulip!".

A street phrase during the tulip mania in 1842, when one bulb

was sold for £640. Tum (American), stylish, “in pro

per form.” By the way, gold spoons and forks for dessert have come in again, and you get them everywhere. Indeed, no table seems to look quite tum for a big occasion without them.-J. W. K., in Chicago Tribune. Tumasha (Anglo-Indian), an

entertainment, a spectacle, a popular excitement. Arabic

tamāshī.

Tumbies (University), ablutions.

Our hero soon concluded his tumbies and his dressing.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Tumbler (printers), a synonym

for a printing machine, the cylinder of which has a peculiar rocking motion. (Thieves), cart; to nap the flog at the tumbler, formerly to be whipped at the cart's tail. (Turf), a term applied to a worthless horse not steady on its legs.

Its representatives likewise cut a better figure than Tom Fergusson's three tumblers.—Sporting Times. Tumble, to (American), agree to

anything, assent. A variation of “fall in,” to concur. The French have tomber d'accord.

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Now as for this speculation which you propose. It may be a very fine thing, but I don't tumble to it.-American Newspaper.

Also to understand. In this sense to tumble is very general in England among turfites, costermongers, roughs and thieves. “Eh, Johnson, ever see a nicer run o' sleighing ?”

“Yes, Mr. Green."
“When and where?"
"In the West Indies in 1857."

Three weeks later Mr. Green meets Mr. Johnson and exclaims :

"Ah! I tumble! Of course, it's winter ten months in the year down there. Ha ! ha! Good joke!”-Detroit Free Press.

“Well, any woman that's dyin' has to be braced up, an' if she's faintin' has to be brought to. Medicine is the thing. Patent medicine of course. S'pose you're doin' Frou-Frou - last act. Bottle of *Warner's Certain Cure' – big label — on the mantelpiece. Husband in tears rushes to bottle and pours out cupful : "Take this, my darling, my wayward child, it will keep you with us a moment longer, if it does not pull you through.' One line, twenty dollars a night-we divide-tumble?'

“I am not a tumbler," she said, with rising indignation.-Green-Room Jokes.

Although I did not tumble to the real essence of the business for some minutes, yet I got in at the finish.-Sporting Times.

6. To tumble to barrikin," to understand language. “I can't tumble to that barrikin,” said a young fellow, "it's a jaw-breaker."-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

"tumbled to the dodge." - George R. Sims: The Doll's Secret.

To tumble to it is to allow oneself to be taken in, to believe a falsehood, implying a certain degree of eagerness. (Provincial), to tumble to the racket, to get accustomed to a thing. Tumble to pieces, to, to be safely

delivered, as in childbirth. Tump, to (American), a Maine word meaning to pull or draw. Bartlett thinks it may be Indian. Till this is established, it may possibly be regarded as related to the Anglo-Saxon teón, to draw. Also a slang word, to poke, push into; so used in a song in an obscene sense. From tamp, to fill up a hole in a rock for the purpose of blasting; to plug. Tum-tum (Anglo-Indian), a dog

cart. Tund (schoolboys), tunding at

Winchester School is thrashing, and Punch puts into the mouth of a Wykhamist the confession

I like to be tunded twice a day,

And swished three times a week. Tunding (Winchester), explained

by quotation.

It was the prefect of hall who ordered the infliction of a public tunding. ... The following simple and truthful statement of what a public tunding was may enable those who take an interest in the matter to form some reasonable opinion whether the infliction of such punishment were a good or a bad thing. . . . Some dozen or so of boys, who had the best capacities for the performance, were ap

“I tumble to your barrikin," I understand you, I twig. To tumble to the dodge, to perceive

the dodge to perceive the trick.

Jack always believed that he had been robbed by one of his former “pals," who, in the language of the profession, had

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“We'll make a Turkey merchant of you yet," said an old gypsy, “never fear that." —Beaconsfield: Venetia.

Also a dealer in plundered or contraband silks.

pointed by him for the purpose, and the whole assembly stood around the dais, while the hymn Te de profundis was sung. When all were thus assembled, and before the singers commenced, the culprit who had been sentenced to a tunding stepped out, pulled off his gown, and received from the hands of one deputed by the “prefect of hall," and armed with a tough, pliant, ground-ash stick, a severe beating.-T. A. Trollope: What I Remember.

I never heard of any case in Eton like the tunding which, some years ago, brought our mother-school into disagreeable notice.-Pascoe: Everyday Life in our Public Schools.

From tund, to beat, same as "to tan;" "tan," a switch;

"tancel,” to beat. Tunker (popular), a street

preacher. Tunny or turnee (Anglo-Indian),

an English supercargo. SeaHindu, and probably a corruption of attorney (Roebuck, cited

in the Anglo-Indian Glossary). Tup, properly a ram, occurs in

the slang phrase a "stray tup on the loose,” i.e., a man looking

out for a girl. Tuppennies (London), women who

for twopence will take articles to a pawnbroker's shop, deposit them, obtain the money and ticket, and take them to the owner. In those parts of London where pawn

e pawn. shops and poverty abound there is a class of women who go by the name of twopennies, and who make it their business to be intermediaries between the lenders and the borrowers of money on articles of property.-Tit-Bits. Turkey merchant (tramps, &c.),

a stealer of fowls.

Turkey, to talk (American), to

talk turkey is to converse on profitable business, to “talk iron" signifies the contrary. “Now you begin to talk turkey,” said a man in Philadelphia to one who at last told him how much he was to have out of a certain transaction. It is derived from a well-known story. A white man and an Indian went hunting, with the understanding that the game was to be divided piece by piece. The result of the sport was two wild turkeys and three crows. The white man, who took it on himself to count out, began by allotting a crow to the Indian, then a turkey to himself, then another crow to the Indian, appropriating, of course, the second turkey. To which the native demurred, saying: "You talk all turkey for you, and only talk crow for Injun" (C. G. Leland).

Turn (theatrical), length of per

formance of an actor or singer. 'Twas plain that ere her turn had ceased, Her talent had, on him at least, Created a most palpable impression.

- Sporting Times. (Stock Exchange), an American term, very common in Wall Street, signifying a method of eluding the risks pertaining to an infringement of the usury laws – for example, when a

Turn-Turn-out.

369

and carries luggage, and directs strangers, and turns cart-wheels - precocious bratlings of this sort are well known to the true Londoner, who marvels at their extraordinary sharpness and unquenchable vitality.--Daily Telegraph.

broker “ carries stock” (which see) for a client, in order to pay for it he often has to seek the aid of bankers or private money - lenders, hypothecating the stocks in return for an advance. When money is tight, the bank, in addition to the legal interest which it is empowered to charge, levies also an additional commission. This, in the slang parlance of the Stock Exchange, is called a turn. Also the profit on a bargain.

Turnips (common), to get turnips,

to be taken in, to be jilted. To
“turn it up."
One day I got a letter,

It came from Betsy Gay;
She said she'd given me turnips ;
With another she'd run away.

-London : The Prize Songster.

Turn one's coat, to, explained by

quotation. This is an almost recognised phrase. French “retourner sa veste.” A man who changes his political opinions is termed a “turncoat."

Thinking men of both parties who have hitherto strenuously opposed the introduction of politics into municipal elections, are beginning, as it has become the silly fashion to designate a change of opinion, to turn their coats.-St. Helen's Lantern.

Turned (prison), converted, by abbreviation from turned square, the contrary of being crooked, or on the crook. A conversation between two thieves was overheard in Clerkenwell Prison. “That chaplain!” “What of him?” “He's a rum ’un; he come into my cell, and said, 'Look here, you talk straight to me, and I'll talk straight to you.' Ah! and he do talk straight, don't he? I think he's one of

us-turned, you know.” Turned up (thieves), arrested. Turning cart-wheels (popular), a

feat performed by circus-clowns and street boys of rolling over and over in such a manner that only the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet touch the ground. In French, “faire la roue.”

The urchin who watches the passing 'bus in order to mount it while the conductor is collecting fares; who gets a gratuitous ride behind growlers and drays; who sells matches, and opens cab doors,

VOL. II.

Turn one over, to (thieves), to

search on the person. " What catch would it be if you was to turn me over?” So I took him into a pub which had a back way out, and called for a pint of stout, and told the reeler to wait a minute.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Turn-out (society), a very fav

ourite word in London society, meaning entourage, get up. “A very smart turn-out” is often applied to a carriage which is well and smartly got up, with good horses, harness, and everything well done. It is also applied to people who dress well and look smart. “Mrs. is always so well turned out."

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I'd describe now to you as “prime a set-to," and "regular turn-up," as ever you knew; not inferior in “bottom” to aught you have read of.--Ingoldsby Le. gends.

A sudden piece of luck. (Sport), bookmakers are said to have a turn-up when an unbacked horse wins.

“Ah, well,” said young Bob, “I suppose we shall still be allowed to have our private turn-ups, and I can tell you it's pretty warm work sometimes.”—Punch. Turn up Jack (American), a

phrase borrowed from cardplaying Mad dogs, mad cows, and mad men are reported as turning up Jack in almost every direction.-Milford (Massachusetts) Journal.

(Popular), the name given by working girls to the toilette hired by them to go to pleasure gardens. “And what should you say it would cost a girl on an average who hired a full turn-out on Monday and Saturday evenings?"

If she was a regular customer, it wouldn't cost her more than two shillings, ostrich and all.” – J. Greenwood: Tag, Rag & Co.

Other meaning explained by quotation.

The 'Delphi was better than it is. I've taken 3s. at the first turn-out (the leaving the theatre for a short time after the first piece).-Mayhew. Turn out slap, to (tailors), to

execute work expeditiously. Turnover (trade), an apprentice

transferred from one master to

another is called a turnover. Turnpike sailor (popular), a

vagabond who shams the shipwrecked sailor.

I became a turnpike sailor, as it is called, and went out as one of the Shal. low Brigade, wearing a guernsey shirt and drawers, or tattered trousers.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Turn the game up, to (common),

to give up one's occupation or pursuits, generally dishonest ones. Marston had long ago announced his intention to turn the game up; Brook had determined to get out of the country for a bit in case of accidents.-G. Sims: Rogues and Vagabonds. Turn turtle, to (nautical), to

capsize. Turn-up (common), a prize-fight.

Also a street fight.

Turtle doves (thieves), rhyming

slang for gloves. Tusheroon (tinker, also canting),

a crown. Also a “bull,“ a

“cart-wheel.” Tut - work (workmen), piece.

work.

Tweak (old), difficulty, perplexity.

“He was in a sad tweak.” Also a prostitute. Thence to Bantree, as I came there From the bushes near the lane there, Rushed a tweak in gesture flaunting, With a leering eye and wanton.

-Drunken Barnaby's Journey. Tweedle (thieves), a spurious

ring, used to swindle jewellers

and pawnbrokers. , Twelve apostles, the last twelve

men in the mathematical tripos at Cambridge.

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the gamin shouted in French the equi. valent of “Twig his legs, Bill ?" for he was dreadfully in-kneed.-Moonshine. Henceforth we'll speak with common

throat,
For common party ends combine.
Here, put this primrose in your coat;

That orchid I will place in mine.
Henceforth in concert we will jig,

To Solly's piping-eh, my boy?
We can't afford to tiff, you twig,
If we'd the Gladstonites annoy!

-Funny Folks. Also possibly from the AngloSaxon tvig-sprcec, geminata loqula, ambiguitas (Ettmüller, Lex. Ang. Sax.), an ambiguous, double-meaning speech. Hence tweógan, to doubt. “Ne mägic thäs nätveogan," I cannot doubt this, i.e., I twig. Vide HOP THE TWIG.

Twelve godfathers, a jury who

have to decide whether a prisoner has been guilty of manslaughter, justifiable homicide, or murder, i.e., to give a name to crime. Twelver (thieves), a shilling. Twicer (printers), a man that

professes to work both at case and press or machine, is generally termed a twicer. Country hands coming to town are often looked on as such, for in their native places, owing to a limited number of hands and amount of work, they are expected to turn their hands to either. The Cockney printer as a rule follows but one branch. Twig, in prime (popular), in firstrate condition, in high spirits. Twig is provincial for brisk, active. Twig, to (popular), a Lincolnshire term, to understand, but commonly used in slang with the further meaning of perceive, see, notice, observe. From the Irish tuigim, I understand, discern. Whitley Stokes compares Irish tuigim, old Irish tuccu, with old Latin tongêre, Gothic thagkjan, Icelandic thekkja, English think (Irish Glossaries).

“They're a twiggin' of you, sir,” whispered Mr. Weller.—Dickens : Pickwick Papers.

A landsman said, “I twig the chaphe's been upon the mill."-Ingoldsby Legends.

I see you twig.-Punch.

The giant kept dropping in, usually followed by a crowd of ragamuffins, whilst

Twilight (schools), toilet.

It was no use doing the downy again, so it was just as well to make one's twilight and go to chapel.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Twine, to (prison), explained by

following extract from Temple Bar :-“Suppose you start in the morning with a good sovereign and a snyde half-sovereign in your pocket. You go into some place or other and ask for change of the sovereign; or you order some beer, and give the sovereign in payment. It islikely you will get half-a-sovereign and silver back in change. Then is the time to twine. You change your mind after you have rung your snyde half-quid with the good one, and, throwing down the snyde half, say you prefer silver. The landlord or land

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lady, or whoever it is, will pick up the snyde half-quid, thinking, of course, it is the same one they have given you.”

From to twine, to twist or complicate. Twinkler (thieves), a light. The

burglar is said to hold three things in abhorrence when found in a house he intends to rob-a twinkler, a tinkler, and a tattler, alias a light, a bell on the shutter,

and a barking dog. Twins (American), a now almost

obsolete New England term, meaning “ dinner and tea at one meal. The custom of having twins in the short days of winter was formerly very common" (Bartlett). In England such a meal is called by commercial travellers “Box Harry” (Hot ten), a term used in Lincolnshire to mean economy of any kind after extravagance. Probably from the idea of beating or robbing “old Harry,” or the devil, who dances in an empty pocket.

au pylore.” It is curious to note also the term “ tortiller,” to eat, literally to twist, coil. Formerly “ tordre.” “Il ne fait que tor. dre et avaler,” said of a glutton. Oliver Twist was apparently so called by Dickens on account of his “hero's" propen. sity to ask for “more.” “An egg,” cried Shakebacon, who has a twist. “Bosh!”

“Well,” replied Gubb, “I once hunted all day after breakfasting on two-thirds of one, and never felt a pang till night time."

Shaky looked incredulous. - Bird • Freedom.

(Low), brandy and gin mixed. Twister (popular), a falsehood,

imaginary story; "he can spin a twister,” he is clever at telling

a falsehood. Twistical (American), having a

twist, tortuous; hence perverse, unfair, dishonest. In Northamptonshire twister means cross, perverse.

Twirlers (thieves), sharpers with

a round-about at fairs.

Twirls (burglars), skeleton keys.

He was very lucky at making twirls, and used to supply them all with tools.Horsley : Jottings from Jail. Twist (common), a good appetite,

alluding probably to the twisting or gnawing sensation in a hungry man's stomach-to the pangs of hunger, which is exactly rendered by the French slang phrase "avoir une crampe

Twist on the shorts (Stock Ex

change), said when the market has been puffed up by irregular and artificial means, and the shorts (which see) have been compelled to settle at a ruinous loss, in consequence of being heavily undersold. Twist, to (thieves), to hang. Twitch a twelve, to (American

University), to get the highest number of marks. Two d. (popular), twopence. A

costermonger will say, “I'll take two d. for it.”

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The girl is invited to "raffles," and treated to twopenny hops and half-pints of beer.—Mayhew; London Labour and the London Poor.

Twofer (common), a term applied

to a loose woman. Two fours (army), the auth Regi.

ment of Foot. Two-nick (printers), a vulgar allu

sion to infants of the female sex. Twopenny (popular), the tongue.

“ Twopenny red rag.” Why, you're going into Newgate Street,

the Lord Mayor bawls, But John said “Tuck your twopenny inI'm going around St. Paul's." -A Ballad: The Lord Mayor's

Coachman.

Twopenny rope (popular), ex

plained by quotation.

“And pray, Sam, what is the twopenny rope?" inquired Mr. Pickwick.

“The twopenny rope, sir,” replied Mr. Weller, “is just a cheap lodgin'- house where the beds is twopence a night!”

“What do they call a bed a rope for ?” said Mr. Pickwick.

"Well, the adwantage o' the plan's obvious. At six o'clock every mornin', they lets go the ropes at one end, and down falls all the lodgers. Consequence is that, being thoroughly waked, they get up very quickly, and walk away.”—Dickens : Pickwick Papers.

The French have “coucher à la corde,” to sleep in such lodging-houses.

Twopenny damn, probably analo

gous to “not worth a curse,” “a tinker's curse.” The Duke of Wellington is alleged to have said that he did not care a twopenny damn what became of the ashes of Napoleon Buonaparte; and a correspondent of Notes and Queries, Series iii., 326, anxious to redeem the Iron Duke's

Two - pipe scatter - gun (Cana

dian), a double-bore rifle. “Oh, durn your rifles!” said an old settler to me. “Give me a two-pipe scatter-gun and a spike-tailed smell-damp and I'm fixed." And this gentleman's

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If I'm not lagged to Virgin-nee,
I may a Tyburn show be.

– The Song of the Young Prig. A Tyburn tippet, a halter.

Tyconna, tyecana (Anglo

Indian), an underground room or cellar, in which people can take refuge during the hottest part of the day. Persian tahkhāna, nether house.

neatly expressed opinion seems to be pretty generally received. — Phillipps - Wolley : Trottings of a Tenderfoot. Two pun' ten (trade), an expres

sion used by assistants to one another in shops when a suspected customer enters. The phrase refers to “two eyes upon

ten fingers,” shortened as above. Two sevens (army), the 77th

Regiment. Also “Pot-hooks." Two-thirty. Vide FULL DRIVE. Two to one shop, the pawnbroker's; in allusion, says Grose, to the three blue balls, the sign of that trade; or, perhaps, from its being two to one that the goods pledged there are ever redeemed. The balls are not now of necessity blue, as they appear to have been in Grose's time. The slang of the present day for this convenient banker of the poor, is “my uncle” (in France it is “my aunt,” ma tante), and the act of pledging

is to "spout” or to “pop.” Two twos (army), the 22nd Regi

ment of Foot, formerly known as the “Red Knights," from being once served out with complete suits of scarlet. Tyburn (old), Tyburn blossom, a

young thief. To preach at Tyburn cross, to be hung, alluding to the penitential speeches made on such occasions.

That soldiours sterne, or prech at Tiborn crosse.—Steele Glas.

Also to fetch a Tyburn stretch. Tyburn show, hanging, hanged.

Tyke, a dog. This is old English,

from Icelandic tik, a bitch, but
only used now by slang-talking
classes. Shakspeare uses the

word (Henry V.).
There sat auld Nick, in shape of beast ;
A towsie tyke, black, grim, and large,
To give them music was his charge.

-Burns: Tam o' Shanter. When I got there I found it so hot, because there had been so many tykes poisoned, that there was a reeler at almost every double, and bills posted up about it.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Also a countryman, clodhopper.

Tyker, a man who takes charge

of dogs.

"Put some in your pocket, you'll want 'em on the course," observes my guide. And I sigh for the capacious pockets of the gamekeeper or the “kick” of the tyker, yet manage to stow a dozen or so about my person.--Bird o' Freedom.

Tyler, Adam. Vide ADAM TILER,

to which may be added : This probably has no reference to a man's name, adam being short for adamed, married, united ; hence in confederacy. A"mason and tyler” were swindlers in close association, the first being also called "masoner" (which

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UGLIES (theatrical), delirium

tremens. Uhlan (tailors), a tramp. Ullages, a nautical term, meaning

the remainder in a cask, which has leaked; hence the wine of all sorts left in the bottom of glasses at a public dinner. Hotten suggests Latin ullus, any, but it is more probably

from the French coulage. Ultramarine (London), “blue,”

that is, more or less indecent. Woe to the cracker of a “risky” wheeze; pity the dancer of an ultramarine step, for the order of the boot is kept ready behind the bar for these offenders. -Sporting Times.

An expression which sprang up during the war. “Am I not a man and a brother?” was converted about the same time into “Am I not a man and a

bother ? " Uncertainties (printers), a vul

garism applied to babies of the

female sex. Uncle (common), pawnbroker.

“Dine in your frock, my good friend, and welcome, if your dress-coat is in the country." “It is at present at an uncle's.” -Thackeray: The Newcomes.

We find him making constant reference to an uncle, in respect of whom he would seem to have entertained great expectations, as he was in the habit of seeking to propitiate his favour by presents of plate, jewels, books, watches, and other valuable articles. -Dickens : Martin Chuzzlewit.

Woe! woe! to that jock,
My watch is in soak,
More aid from my uncle
I vainly invoke.
I'm a wave on the sea of misfortune,
And-what's frequent with breakers-
I'm broke!

- Turf, Field, and Farm.

Ultray (Punch show), very; ultray

cativa, very bad. “How are you getting on?” I might say to another Punch-man. “ Ultray cativa,” he'd say.- Mayhew. Unbleached American (Ameri

can), a negro, a man of colour.

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It has been suggested that uncle is from uncus, a hook (French au clou, in pawn), but it is evidently derived from a jocular allusion to a fond uncle or a mysterious rich uncle -"oncle d'Amérique”-as in Dickens's quotation. Uncles have always been considered as the natural prey of spendthrift nephews. The French term the pawnbroker “ma tante” or “ma tante Dumont” (du mont-depiété). Also “mon oncle Du Prêt.” “Oncle” is a very old term for a usurer, and also means a jailer, prisoners considering

themselves as being in pawn. Uncork the swag (American),

deliver ! literally, unlock the portmanteau. Once more, you bloke, will you uncork that swag ?-Detroit Free Press. Unction, blue (popular), mercurial

ointment. Also “ blue butter.” Undergraduates (turf), horses

that are being trained for steeple-chasing. It seems to me that the undergraduates comprise far better material than what is generally drafted from the ranks of the flat racers ... the best of the lot are in the hands of trainers who lay themselves out for the preparation of jumpers. Referee. Undergrounder (cricket). Anun

dergrounder, a “ daisy cutter," a “ daisy trimmer,” or “sneak," is a ball bowled all along the

ground, without a proper pitch. Understandings (common), shoes,

feet, in opposition to tops, upper

garments or tops of boots, and bottom clothing.

The massive Kadoudja found a fitting exponent in Miss — whose short Circassian skirt admitted of the display of a pair of shapely understandings.—Modern Society. Understudy (theatrical), an actor

or actress engaged to understudy, and to act, if necessary, the parts of principal performers—so that, in the event of accident, or indisposition, the run of a piece may not be suspended. Her voice was no fortune, but it sufficed for the chorus in comic opera, and she was offered an understudy of a few lines in the preceding farce. -Society Times. Unguentum aureum, explained

by quotation.

To call a bribe unguentum aurem shows that slang-makers have not been altogether unlettered.-Globe. Unicorn (thieves), two men and

one woman, or two women and one man associated to steal. From unicorn, two horses abreast

with a leader. Universal staircase (thieves), the

treadmill. Well, the beaks got up to the dodge, and all the Spanish lurksmen in their turns got to work the universal staircase. — Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor. Unlimber (American), deliver !

out with the money.

No monkeying! unlimber! produce the scads.—Detroit Free Press. Unload, to (Stock Exchange), to

sell. (American), unload your boodle, empty your pockets, de. liver up the property.

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Cheese your patter! Don't you see I've got the drop ? Unload your boodle.-Detroit Free Press. Unmentionables, a silly euphem

ism for trousers. Also “unutterables, unwhisperables, ineff

ables, inexpressibles.” Unregenerate chicken-lifter

(American), a petty thief beyond all hope of reform. Mr. Stevens applies this beautiful

term to an Austrian gypsy. Unrigged (thieves and popular),

naked; rigged out, dressed. Unsalted (American), fresh, green,

“young,” or inexperienced. He was an unsalted young man at the oyster festival given the other night by the Dorcas Aid Society of Christ Church, and he was seated in front of half-a-dozen fried.-Washington Critic. Unsweetened (popular), gin.

Those who are partial to the unsweetened or “Old Tom."-Bird o' Freedom.

Also much used in England. How he lived I can't conjecture; he was

always up a tree, Though 'tis fair to state he often borrowed half-a-crown of me.

-Funny Folks. Uphill player (cricketers), a player

who plays a good losing game under disadvantage, one who

never says “die." Up in his hat (Irish), drunk, cor

responding to English slang

“elevated.” Upon my Sam (common), upon my soul. A piece of slang at one time very common in the

mouths of women. Upper Benjamin (popular), a top

coat.

A greatcoat, a sort of upper Benjamin, hanging on loosely and unbuttoned. Sporting Times.

Originally a cloak or upper garment was a “Joseph.” The

connection is obvious. Upper crust (common), the higher

society. Originally American. La haute. Since then our nearest synonym to chic has been "good form," a later outgrowth of British upper-crust slang.–Daily Telegraph.

(Pugilistic), the skin.
Sam's nob had been in pepper alley, and
his upper crust was rather changed. -
Pierce Egan: Book of Sports.
Upper Roger (Anglo-Indian),

young king. “This happy ex-
ample of Hobson-Jobson dialect
occurs in a letter dated 1755,
from Captain Jackson, at Syrian
in Burma. It is a corruption of

Up and down place (tailors), a

situation where a man is required to cut and fill up time in sewing. Up and down is old for “in every respect.” He was euen Socrates up and downe in this pointe and behalfe, that no man euer sawe hym either laughe or weepe.- Udal: Erasmus's Apophthegms. Up a tree, treed (American), in

difficulty, cornered, unable to do anything.

A Something, apparently intermediate between man and monkey, now ornaments

Bowery museum. This Something is believed to be a primeval m-gw-mp. The modern m-gw-mp, it will be remembered, has long ears, and he is arboreal in his habits. That is, he's always up a tree.-New York Sun.

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the Sanskrit yuvah-rajah, 'young king,' the Cæsar or heir-apparent” (Anglo-Indian Glossary). In a similar way Surajah Dow. lah was commonly called by the

soldiers Sir Roger Dowler. Upper shell (old cant), a coat.

“Under shell," a waistcoat. Upper storey (popular), the head;

rats in the upper storey, crazy.

Also “upper works.” Upright man (old cant), the head

of a gang of mendicants. Upset his apple-cart (American),

generally heard in this form-
“Look out, or you'll upset your
apple-cart and spill the peaches,”
i.e., " Take care, or you'll come

to grief." Up stakes (American), “ up stakes

and off,” meaning the same as “to cut stick,” i.e., to depart in

a hurry. Jemmy Jed went into a shed, And made a ted of straw his bed. An owl came out and flew about, And Jemmy Jed up stakes and fled. Wasn't Jemmy Jed a staring fool, Born in the woods to be scared by an owl?

-Mother Goose. The reference appears to be a pulling up of tent-pegs or

stakes before decamping. Up the spout (common), in pawn.

Hence imprisoned. With our energetic hero he at once com

menced to play, And then left him on the pavement, in

the rain; And his notes on the inquiry were not

statements à la mode, But a message worded, “Vine Street

up the spout),

Up to Dick (popular), a phrase

which has become very popular
of late years, having very ex-
tensive application to many
circumstances. A man who is
clever is up to Dick, as is one
who is gifted with presence of
mind. One who is well off, or
rich, or generous, or wise in
managing matters; also one
who is quick and ready to please
is quite the same. It also means
to be well, satisfied, or jolly.
There is a popular comic song
in which all of these applica-
tions are made to the phrase.
It is very evidently derived from
the gypsy dick or dikk, which is
also common in ordinary slang,
meaning to see, 'to perceive.
“He is dressed up to Dick,"
i.e., so that it is worth while
to see him, is an old popular
phrase borrowed from the
Romany.
When, lo! a dear relation died,

Who left me lots of tin.
I often think with gratitude

About the dear old flick,
Who left me cash to cut a dash,
And set me up to Dick.

Up to Dick, boys, up to Dick,

At trifles never stick.
Be like me, a jolly brick,
That's the style, boys, up to Dick.

-Catnach Press Ballad.
Also in good health.

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Up to his blue china, living

(common), living up to or beyond his income. The phrase originated at a time when blue china was a rarity. He was the possessor of the largest fortune in the empire, and is now scrupulously living up to his blue china.—Daily Telegraph. Up to sample (common), equal

to anticipation, of sufficiently
good quality.
This combat is up to sample.

-Punch. Up to snuff. Vide SNUFF. Up

to snuff appears to be literally “ up to scent,” and a metaphor like "smell a rat,” “ up to trap,” &c.

Up to the door (popular), to the

last degree, as fine as possible. Probably a variation of “up to the knocker.” Yes, and we goes out respectable, I can tell you. None of your half-and-half

: turn-outs. I'm togged up to the door, a pair of respectable "round my owsers," a two quid “I'm afloat,” a silk “wipe” tied round my “top-deck," and a “bruiser's cady" on the top of the nob.-T. Browne : Coster Joe; or, the Happy Trio. Up to the knocker. Vide

KNOCKER. This term usually occurs in the phrase "dressed up to the knocker,” i.e., very elegantly dressed, which probably arose from the practice of tying a glove to the knocker of a house when a lady was in child. bed, the idea of the height of elegance being, in the popular mind, inseparable from the wearing of gloves, specially kid

gloves. Hence, up to the knocker, supremely elegant, completely, to the last degree, proficient. “Up to the door” appears to be a variation of this. “Kid,” in its meaning of “swell,” and “kiddily,” fashionably, in fine style, skilfully, probably arose from a like appreciation of the use of kid gloves. Again, it is possible that up to the knocker owes its origin to the “knocker” or breast-pin which was formerly in fashion, and which was like a knocker on a door.

I shall have 'em all on to-morrow—tidy sort of weskit, cuffs, collar, and dickyall up to the knocker.-). Greenwood: Under the Blue Blanket. Up to the mark. Vide MARK. Up to the ropes (London), saga.

cious, knowing. Her style and her talk were decidedly

"gay," And any one up to the ropes, Will guess that, of course, in the usual

way,
I took her to supper at “Pope's."

-Bird o Freedom. U.S. cove (American thieves), a

soldier, a man in the service of the American government.

“U.S. plate,” handcuffs. Use at, to (thieves), frequent.

I got in company with some of the widest people in London. They used to use at a pub in Shoreditch.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Very common in Western America. To use round a place,

to haunt it. Usher (thieves), yes; from the

Yiddish user, it is right, it is so. 380

Utilities—Vamping.

When I got into Shoreditch I met one or two of the mob, who said, “Hallo, been out to-day? Did you touch ?" So I said usher.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail. Utilities (theatrical), minor parts

for beginners. “Responsible utilities” are somewhat more

important parts than ordinary

utilities. Utter (society), excellent, most

elegant. Uzar (gypsy), by chance. (Hindu

usar, by chance.)

VĀCCASHO (gypsy), a calf, also

a lamb. Vag. (American), a vagabond.

The Vagabond Act is always called in police circles the Vag. Act. By the way, Billy, why ain't I in with the other vags. or the S. D.'s (Simple Drunks)? You're treating me as royally as a murderer.—Bird o' Freedom. Vakeel (Anglo-Indian), a barrister. Valley tan (American), a kind of whisky sold in the Mormon

country is known as valley tan. Valleys (pantomime, &c.), ex

plained by quotation. Cascades and valleys are trundling and gymnastic performances, such as turnbling across the stage on wheels and catching hold of hands and twirling round. ---Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

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Vamper, a horse-dealer that

“ vamps" up, cobbles up a horse ; that is, makes him appear sound by certain tricks and devices. Vide To VAMP.

By what process of diabolical conjuration it is contrived, it is, of course, impossible for me to say, but it is beyond dispute that in the hands of the experienced horse-vamper the most wretched used-up screw in existence may, for a brief hour or so, be made to exhibit an amount of fire and spirit that if persisted in for a longer period would inevitably shake its ramshackle carcass all to pieces.--). Greenwood: Undercurrents of London Life.

Also a thief. Vamping (musical), a musical

term, introduced from America. “It means a plan of playing

Vamos (American). The soldiers

who returned from the war with Mexico brought with them several Spanish phrases, such as vamos, let us go, which they speedily changed to vamo, very properly described by Bartlett as “a curious grammatical perversion.” With this came

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Vantagé (printers). Vide FAT.

An old term, according to Moxon, 1683, for good paying work—"fat" being the modern equivalent.

Van-ts'ang-koon-sz (pidgin), the Pacific Mail Steamship Company of Shanghai. An American who heard this name remarked that the Van Zang coons must be of the Knickerbocker Kuhn family to judge by their name.

an accompaniment at sight, by simply knowing the key and the time to which the song is set. In the Western States men make a good living by teaching it in eight lessons, for which they charge ten dollars (£2)”

(Tit-Bits). The man at the shop had no guitar to sell, So I purchased a banjo, which did just as

well; The hour it was late, and the night it was

damp, But my mind was made up, and I started

to vamp.--Song by Jas. Tabrar. Vampire (American), a man

who lives by following men and women about until he has proof of their undue intimacy, and then blackmailing them.

(Punch and Judy), the ghost. Vampo (theatrical), the clown. Vampoose, to (popular and

thieves), to decamp. Obsolete English, vamp, to go, to travel, influenced by vamoose. Has he vampoosed with the contents of a till ?-Kingsley: Two Years Ago. Vamp, to (popular), to leave in

pawn, to do a thing carelessly, slovenly, anyhow, so that it will pass muster for the time being. Vamped is said of anything falsified, arranged so as to make

it appear genuine. Vanish, in conjuring, used almost

invariably as a verb active. To vanish an object is to make an object disappear from sight

of the audience. Van John, a common corruption

of the game of vingt-et-un.

Vardo, wardo, a waggon. Ac

cording to Hotten this word is “old cant,” according to fact it is old Romany, wardo being in some form or other found in all gypsy dialects. It is also applied to cards, and to a wheel, from the old gypsy wortin, a

vessel. " Awer bikdom dovo wardo léski

Pátserdo, te yúv te vél kek pessur"

" But I sold him that waggon on credit, and he will not pay (for it).”

(Roughs, itinerants, strollers, &c.) Vardo ! or varder! look see. From Italian vedere.

Varmint (University), spruce,

natty, good all round.

A varmint man spurns a scholarship, would consider it a degradation to be a fellow.-Gradus ad Cantab.

The handsome man, my friend and pupil, was naturally enough a bit of a swell, or varmint man.-Alma Mater.

Varmint men (University), those who used, like Jemmy Gordon, to write themes for Cantabs too idle to do it themselves.

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Varnister (thieves), an utterer of

false sovereigns. Varsity (Oxford and Cambridge),

a common pronunciation of uni. versity. With Le Maitre only half a yard worse than 50sec. for the Quarter, it doesn't look as if the Cantabs will have a smell at the Quarter, the Half, or the Mile, at the next 'Varsity contest. -Sporting Life. Vaseline (Royal Military Aca

demy), butter. Vássavo, vessavo (gypsy), bad, naughty. " Awer tu shan vassavi lūbbeni

Sār gorgiko rāt to be kambli"“But thou art a bad harlot to be with child with Gorgio blood.”—George Borrow: Lavengro. Vaulting-house (common), a house

of ill fame. See “Ballads and

Songs,” seventeenth century. Velvet (thieves), the tongue;

“especially,” says Hotten, “the tongue of a magsman.” This circumstance would support the derivation of magsman from to mag, to talk persuasively. (Common), men, especially racing men, who have succeeded in their speculations, are said “to

stand on velvet.” Ventilator (theatrical), a piece,

or an actor who ventilates, i.e., empties the house. An amusing story is told of a certain tragedian, who was popularly known as the champion ventilator. While acting Othello in the Cork theatre, he became disgusted with the coldness and want of sympathy on the part

of the audience. Being extremely short-sighted, the poor fellow could not distinguish whether the house was a good or a bad one, so he sent his dresser-a native of the Emerald Isle-into the pit to discover the state of the land. During his rendition of the crucial scene in the third act, his performance was of such a character that the few people who were in the pit began to straggle out. When the dresser came round at the end of the third act, his master opened fire with, “Well, Larry, I think I had them in that act.”

“Faith, you may say that, sor.”

“Yes, I flatter myself I moved them in the farewell."

“You did, sor; you moved them so, that, begorra, they've all moved out, and there's nothing lift but the binches to play to."

That was the champion ventilator's last engagement in Cork, or anywhere else for that matter. He has now retired, and lives on his means—"a pros

perous gentleman.” Verge (thieves), a gold watch. Vert, frequently used during the

Tractarian Controversy, is a pervert or convert from the Church

of England to that of Rome. Verticalcase-grinder, the (prison),

the treadwheel.

There is humour in the description of the treadmill as the "everlasting staircase or the vertical case-grinder.-Globe.

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Vest (common), to lose your vest,

to lose your temper. Vestas (Stock Exchange), Railway Investment Company De

ferred Stock. Vet., an abbreviation for veteri

nary surgeon. In the United States it is a common term for a veteran.

I had hired a trap from an innkeeper who was also a vet.-Chambers's Journal. Vice, the (University), obvious

corruption of Vice-Chancellor.

Winchester Match in 1883, I (moi-qui-vousparle, height 6 feet 2 inches, and weight 14 stone 7 lbs.) was called a vile child for being on a committee to oppose a certain obnoxious Indian Bill! I wasn't sorry when tea was over, although many most pleasant evenings did I afterwards spend in that room.-Polytechnic Magazine. Village bustler (old cant), an ac

tive thief, that steals anything. Village, the (London), a playful

appellation for London. Vim, from the Latin, claimed as

American, but well known to English schoolboys, strength, spirit, activity, pluck.

Virginia city is sobering down with the ebbing tide into substantial legitimate business, but Helena has all the vim, recklessness, extravagance, and jolly progress of a new camp.-Tour through Rocky Mountains,

Victim (society), a very common

expression for any one who is

desperately in love. Victualling department (pugilis

tic), the stomach. Also “victualling office," "bread basket,” “ dumpling depôt.” In French slang “panier au pain;" in Italian cant "fagiana,” literally

the bean box. Vile (thieves), a town; from the

French ville. In ancient cant
London was termed Rome-vile,
the fine town. Deuce-a-vile, the
country.

And prig and cloy so benshiply
All the deuce-a vile within.

-The English Rogue. In old English “vill," a vil. lage. Vile child (Eton), explained by

quotation.

Being called a vile child, the which I subsequently learnt was a very frequent term of mild reproach, and had no parti. cular reference to the age of the individual to whom it was addressed. As a proof of this I may add that, being at Eton for the

Vincent's Law, the act of cheat

ing at cards. Vine Vinegar on his oysters (Ame

rican), applied to men not perfectly familiar with the minor refinements of highly civilised life. “What kind of man is he-a gentleman ?" “Oh yes, he believes himself to be one, calls himself 'an Amurican,' takes vinegar on his oysters instead of lemon-juice, very often skips his daily bath, and never mentions a picture, or a horse, or a human being, without telling you how much it, or he, or she is worth."--Newspaper Letter.

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Voker, a word found only in

Hotten, who says that it is the gypsy to talk (“Can you voker Romany ?”), and derives it from the Latin vocare. He was probably misled by a misprint or mis-writing of rõker, rāker, or rākker, being the true word. It is true that verākava or verākkerava is found in continental gypsy dialects, but it is very doubtful whether it exists in England.

Vulgus (Winchester College), ex

plained by quotation.

The mention of a vulgus requires some explanation. Every inferior, i.e., non-prefect in the school was required every night to produce a copy of verses of from two to six lines on a given theme-four or six lines for the upper classes, two for the lowest. This was independent of a weekly verse task of greater length, and was called a vulgus, I suppose, because everybody, the vulgus-had to do it.—T. A. Trollope: What I Remember.

Vongar, wongur (gypsy), coals.

Also hangars and angars (Sanskrit angara), money ; angarengro, a tinker or smith. “It came out in the course of an examination at the Guildhall that receivers of stolen goods are in the habit of carrying small pieces of coal about with them. When they see a thief who seems to be rather shy, they will walk up to him, take out a purse, and innocently show him a bit of coal. It has been suggested that this proceeding is analogous to taking salt together among the Arabs as a sign of good faith and mutual hospitality. In several languages "glowing coals” is a

Vum (American), a form of swear.

ing. “I vum !' for 'I vow!' is a euphemistic form of oath often heard in New England” (Bartlett). As the writer has heard “I vum /” innumerable times in his boyhood, he always understood it to be much more strongly expressive than “I vow.” It is worth observing that, in Anglo-Saxon, vomm or vamm (peccatum, crimen, horror), and vom, full of evil, formed a malediction or curse, e.g., vome, malediction (Caedmon).

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WAD, straw. A common abbre

viation for wadding, which, as
padding, means the stuffing of a
bed, and dates from the times
when straw and hay were used
for the purpose for which cotton
or other wadding is now em-
ployed.
Moll in the wad and I fell out,
I'll tell you what 'twas all about ;
She had money, I had none,
That was the way the row begun.

-Old Popular Song.
(American), a roll of bank-
bills, hence a fortune.
Many scores of these philanthropists,
who have spent their lives in looking for
men to enrich, whilst anxious only to
make a small wad for themselves, have
I encountered.-F. Francis : Saddle and
Moccasin.
Waddle out of the alley. Vide

DUCK.
Waddler (popular), a duck.
Waddy (Australian), the Austra-

lian natives' club, a native word
adopted by the whites.
Nulla Nullas, waddies, or clubs, used
chiefly for hand-to-hand encounters, but
also for throwing; the sharpened points
cause terrible stab-wounds. The timbers
chosen are the hardest and heaviest ob-
tainable in the forests of the different
districts, iron bark, myall, swamp myrtle,
&c.-New South Wales Catalogue.
Dear Peter from my threshold went

One morning in the body,
He“ dropped” me, to oblige a gent,

A gent with spear and waddy.
-H. Kendall: Peter the Piccaninny.

Waddy is also slang for any
kind of stick. A young colonial
VOL. II.

will speak in joke of his walking-
stick as his waddy.
Thanks, generous colonial,

Thou art very, very kind; ,
Now pick a thickish waddy up
And plug my wound behind.
-J. B. Stephens : The Headless

Trooper.
Waffle (printers), to wafle is to be

endowed with the “gift of the
gab,” or talk of any kind to
an excess ; popular equivalent

would be to "jaw.”
Wagon (American), a bicycle.
Wag-tail, a prostitute, a harlot.
Wailo, wylo (pidgin-English), go

away! away with you! to go,
depart, gone, departed, went.

There was an Englishman in Canton who kept a cow, with a maid to milk it, and a dog to guard it. One morning there was no milk, and the gentleman scolded his comprador or steward, who in great agitation burst into poetry and said >

T'at cow hab die-lo,
T'at dog hab wylo,
Tat woman catchee chilo-

How can hab milk?

-The Cow and the Comprador. Waistcoat, fætid, a term current

in 1859 for a low, ilaunting,

vulgar pattern. Wake up the wrong passenger,

to (popular), a phrase of American origin, and derived from railroad terminology. On long distance journeys, when travellers sometimes spend several days and nights on board a car, it occasionally happens that the

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funny thing to say, and upon its use at some unexpected moment many a reputation for wit was founded. Even now, though it has grown feeble with age, it is sometimes found serviceable by small boys, the tip of the finger pressed against the nose at the time of utterance. Even elderly politicians have not dis. dained to conciliate the masses with a delicate use of Walker ! -Globe.

attendant, not being sure of the identity of a passenger, wakes up the wrong man. The expression therefore indicates uncertainty as to identity, al

ways meaning to catch a Tartar. Walk (bankers), the round of a

banker's collecting clerk is so called. A rich walk is one where

a large sum of money is got in. Walk down a person's throat,

to (common), to rate or scold any one soundly. Sometimes

for “walk,” “jumped” is used. Walker, a vulgar exclamatior

to express incredulity. All this in her ear, he declared, but I fear That her senses were wandering-she

seem'd not to hear, Or, at least, understand for mere unmean

ing talk her Parch'd lips babbled now, such as “Hoo

key," and Walker! She expired, with her last breath express

ing a doubt If “his mother were fully aware he was out."

-Ingoldsby Legends. The remark which was made, after perusing the book by that eminent botanist, my friend Professor Hookey, was Walker! -Punch.

Walking mort (old cant), a con

cubine, the autem mort being the lawful spouse.

Walking papers (American), to

dismiss one is to give him his

walking-papers. Walk into, to (common), to strike,

thrash. When he told Verdant that ... his bread-basket walked into, his day-lights darkened.-C. Bede : Verdant Green.

(Metaphorically), to demolish. A hungry man walked into a pigeon-pie. -Punch.

To walk into the affections, to scold or thrash ; also to run into debt.

(Popular), walker, a postman.

“There is nothing inherently humorous, for example, in the name Walker, and yet there was a time when it could set a whole crowd roaring with laughter. Occurring in a popular song, it was at first coupled with the prefix Hookey, but it soon came to be employed alone, and for a season was in every mouth. It was consideredan excruciatingly

Walk one's chalks, to (popular),

to walk straight, to be compelled to behave well, to go away, abscond.

That artist was a keen observer, as all true artists should be, so finding the corner was getting too hot for him he simply walked his chalks.-Moonshine.

Hotten gives the explanation, “Anordeal for drunkenness used on board ship, to see if the sun

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(Popular), to wall it, to post the account for drink on the wall at a public-house.

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Waltzing about (tailors) is said

of a man who makes himself a nuisance.

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Wanky (printers). This expres

sion is used to denote a spuri. ous or wrong article. A bad sixpence given amongst change for a larger coin would be described as a wanky sixpence.

3.

pected person can walk on a
chalk line without overstepping
it on either side” (the device
in the army is putting a
man suspected of drunkenness
through his facings); another
explanation of the phrase is
“a person who has run up a score
or chalk at a public-house or
shop, walking off without pay-

ing for it.”
And if you want fresh liquor, you must

pay,
For chalks too often walk themselves
away,

- Albert Smith : Alhambra.
Walk over (society), when any

one wins or succeeds very easily
it is called a walk over. It is
borrowed from racing language.
When a horse walks over the
course, not having any opponents
in the race.
Besides his monetary advantage and
personal gifts, he could sing well and talk
admirably, and he was considered sure to
“walk over the course."-H. L. Williams:
Buffalo Bill,

The latest batch we have received are
from W. Hazelberg, of Berlin and London
Wall, who evidently does not intend that
the English manufacturers shall have a
walk over.-Sporting Times.
Wallaby track, to go on the

(Australian), to go on foot, up

country, in search of work.
Wallflowers, second-hand gar-

ments exposed for sale in Seven
Dials. A common expression for
ladies in a ballroom who, either
from choice or otherwise, sit

looking on without dancing.
Wall, to (Oxford University),

confining a student to college.

Wanted (common), wanted by the

police for an offence, or by one's creditors.

The police, on their part, caused it to be understood that until he was really wanted on a specific charge, a thief should in no case be interfered with, nor any measures be taken to put the public on their guard against him.-J. Greenwood : Tag, Rag, & Co. The landlady's certain to peach

When she finds not a thing do I own.
The Bobby's come into the lane,

And somebody's wanted, I see,
They pass me again and again,
But haven't found out that it's me.

-Bird o' Freedom.
Wapping. Vide TO WAP.
Wap, to (old cant), futuere. Wap-

pen is provincial English. Ward-heeler (American), the

ward-heeler is a power in American politics. He raises the money by which city elections are carried, and when some “prominent politician” is sent to prison, the ward-heeler represents to the magistrate or judge the inexpediency of weakening “the party” by withdrawing an

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Then live on prayer,
Peace, sherbet, love, and tea.

-Song of Salvation Sarah.

“influential” partisan from his sphere of activity. Chiefly applied to men who solicit money, generally without authority from candidates, for electioneering

purposes. Ware hawk! (old cant), a cry of

warning, especially when the police are espied. Sir Walter Scott puts the term in the mouth

of De Bracy in “Ivanhoe.” Warehousing (society), taking to

the pawnbroker's. The more genteel are called “warehousemen,” and their shops “warehouses."

War-hat, or war-pot (army), the

new helmet with a spike. Warming-pan. In clerical circles

a warming-pan is an incumbent who accepts a benefice on the condition of resigning it in favour of some other presentee so soon as the latter shall be able to assume its duties. He keeps the place “ warm” for the son or other friend of the patron. (Common), a large watch.

War-paint (theatrical), paint for

the face.

Stickin' on a few feathers an' a bit o' war-paint !--Sporting Times.

Also a common expression for official costume or evening dress, a phrase originally used by some women who dressed, as the Americans say, to kill, determined to make conquests at evening parties.

She-"Have you seen the hero of the evening ?”

He-"Who? Do you mean the Por-
tuguese governor in his war-paint?"-
Rider Haggard: Dawn.
War-pot. Vide WAR-HAT.
Wash (printers). When a printer

“slings the hatchet,” that is, ex-
aggerates or tells a falsehood, his
companions proceed to wash him
in a somewhat emphatic and
noisy manner, by banging or
knocking on their cases. This is
another and older expression for
“whack,” which see. An ap-
prentice coming out of his time
would receive a “washing" or
“jerry.” See Hansard’s “Typo-

graphia,” 1825. Washing (tailors), to get a wash

ing is to have one's workmanship or conduct criticised in language more forcible than pleasant. In French “ laver la tête.” Washing day, dinner at the shop. (Stock Exchange), a fictitious bargain or sale, in which one broker agrees with another

Warm member (society), a fast

man or woman. Also a “hot 'un,” a “scorcher.”

Warm 'un (common), one who is
immoral, fast, dissipated.
They call me Salvation Sarah,

A warm 'un I have been ;
But now I am converted,

I'll never go wrong again.
So come and join our army,

And better you'll all be;
And instead of beer,

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to purchase a given stock when put up for sale, the object being to keep it on quotation. If the deal is a large one it may send up the price, in which case the object is sometimes so to increase its value as to form a basis for a genuine deal. Wash one's ivories, to (society),

to drink. In French slang “se

rincer la dent.” Wash - outs (American), ragged,

stony sides of hills. Where scraggy - looking latitudinous wash-outs are awaiting a chance to commit a murder, or to make the unwary cycler who should venture to “coast," think he had wheeled over the tail of an earthquake. — T. Stevens : Around the World on a Bicycle. Wash, to (common), in the sense

of to do, to serve.

The conversation, as a rule, ended in Charley's giving them an order too. Of course this little “caper" would only wash once.-Hindley: Life and Adventures of a Cheap Jack.

This will not wash, this will not stand test, as of colours

that will not bear washing. Waste-butt (thieves), an eating

house.

bowed himself in, and all the house fell
down with a great noise, and all the poor
men were killed and the house, broken to
small pieces.”—C. G. Leland: The Eng..
lish Gypsies.
Waste, to (sporting), to reduce

one's weight by certain means
which bring on profuse per-
spiration.
He had often heard Archer say that he
was so exhausted at the end of the season
that he could not ride. But he had to
waste: that was different from Wood.
St. James's Gazette.
Watch and seals (popular), a

sheep's head and pluck. Watcher (special meaning), ex

plained by quotation.

So I do, but not alone. Dress lodgers are never allowed to do that, sir. I haven't been one long, but long enough to find that out. There's always a watcher. Soinetimes it's a woman-an old woman, who isn't fit for anything else—but in general it's a man. He watches you always, walking behind you, or on the opposite side of the way. He never loses sight of you, never fear.-Greenwood: Seven Curses of London. Watchmaker (thieves), a thief

who steals watches. Water (Westminster School), ex

plained by quotation. Boating, or water, as it is called at Westminster, is in a very flourishing condition.

-Pascoe : Everyday Life in our Public Schools. Water a stock, to (Stock Ex

change). Watering is generally resorted to by companies whose fortunes are on the down grade. It consists in enhancing the total of capital stock by new issues, on the ground that the profits already accrued, or in

Wasters (gypsies), hands. (Pro

nounce a as in glass.) “And as they were gillerin' and huljerin' him, Samson chivved his wasters kettenus the boro chongurs of the sturaben, and bongered his kokerus adrée, an sār the ker pet a lay with a boro gudli, an' sār the pooro mushis were mullered an' the ker poggered to bitti cutters"

"And as they were making fun of him and teasing him, Samson threw his hands around the great pillars of the prison, and

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anticipation, justify such a

course. Waterloo-day (army), pay-day, a

day of victory and rejoicing. Watersman (costers, pugilistic,

&c.), a sky-coloured silk pocket

handkerchief. Water the dragon, or water one's

nag, a hint for retiring (Hotten). Wattles (popular), the ears. Wavy in the syls (theatrical),

unsteady in the syllables, loose in the words, imperfect in the

text. Wavy-rule (printers), an inebri.

ated person is said to be making wavy-rule m m if his gait is unsteady.

Wayzgoose (printers). Essen

tially a printer's term for the annual dinner or “beanfeast.” Derived from the old English word wayz or stubble, when the dinners were usually held at the season of the wheat-stubble, the head dish at these entertainments being a wayz-goose or stubble-goose. Bailey gives wayz-goose, a stubble-goose, and wayz, a bundle of straw. Old English wase, a wisp. These festive occasions are usually celebrated earlier in the year now-generally July.

The master-printer gives them a way. goose, that is, he makes them a good feast. -Moxon : Mechanick Exercises. After the wayzgoose: a moment immense! Gargantuan the feasting has been.

-Bird o' Freedom.

Weak (popular), tea is so called

in the low coffee-shops.

Wax (general), in a wax, in a

rage.

She is in a terrible wax, but she'll be all right by the time he comes back from his holidays.-H. Kingsley: Ravenshoe.

“ Wax, to be angry or vexed, is evidently identical with Scot

tish wex, i.e., vex”(A. S. Palmer). And mak thi self als merry as yhoue may, It helpith not thus fore to wex al way.

-Lancelot of the Laik.

Weaver, query wheezer, a broken

winded horse, a “roarer.” The definition given to the writer by a stable-keeper was, “a horse that over-gorges himself," probably the cause for the effect, as over-feeding, in the case of horses, often produces thick wind.

T" horse was a weaver, if iver one was, as any could ha' told as had come within a mile of him.-Mrs. Gaskell: Sylvia's Lovers.

Waxed (tailors), to have him

waxed, to know all about one, alluding to a thread well waxed

before it is used. Waxy (common), angry. Vide

WAX.

It would cheer him up more than anything if I could make him a little waxy with me; he's welcome to drop into me right and left, if he likes.--Dickens : Bleak House.

Again, it is possible that weaver refers to a horse that rolls from side to side when trotting, one that rocks. Vide To WEAVE, and WOBBLER.

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Weave, to (American), to work

along from one side to the other, as a shuttle flies right and left in a loom. A drunken man " weaves along."

He began in earnest too; and went weaving first to one side of the platform and then the other. — Mark Twain: Huckleberry Finn.

Hence to get into a weaving
way, to walk or stagger along
recklessly, not to care what one
is doing.
When I git in a weaving way,

I spend my money free;
Oh den I hab a merry time,
And Jenny am de girl for me.

-Olu Negro Song. Weaving (cardsharpers), a trick

performed by keeping some particular cards on the knee and

using them when required. Wedge (thieves, itinerants, strol

lers, &c.), a very old term for

silver or silver money. He had twice been pull’d, and nearly

lagg'd, but got off by going to sea, With his pipe and quid, and chanting

voice, potatoes he would cry, For he valued neither cove nor swell, for he had wedge snug in his die.

-P. Egan: Book of Sports. Wedge-feeder, a silver spoon; wedge-hunter, one who purloins plate from unguarded kitchens. Spelled wage in some old cant vocabularies, which perhaps gives a clue to the origin as meaning pay.

Wedge now applies more particularly to silver plate than in the early days of the century.

I succeeded in getting some wedge and a kipsy full of clobber.-Horsley : Jottings from Jail.

Weed (common), a cigar.

A cigar is figuratively styled a weed, an innovation applicable enough to the anomalous compounds of nastiness retailed at the Derby, the Boat Race, and other public gatherings, but an evident misnomer as regards the fragrant samples issuing from Mr. Benson's emporium.-Belgravia. So you see, Mr. S., that the modest request

on which you so coolly insist, Would probably to the establishment tend

of a kind of gigantic free list, On which would be found every law-maker's

name, and which in its limitless scope Would ensure him free shaving, free papers,

free weeds, free candles, and pickles and soap.

- London Figaro. Weenie (telegraph), the inspector

is coming, used in the same

sense as “cave.” Wejee, a chimney-pot; often

applied to any clever invention, or to anything elegant, as "that's

a regular wejee" (Hotten). Welsher (common), a race-course

swindler who makes bets, takes the money if he wins, and absconds if he loses.

Does the reader know what is a welsher, the creature against whose malpractices the sporting public are so emphatically warned? Probably he does not. It is still more unlikely that he ever witnessed a welsher hurt; and as I there have the advantage of him, it may not be out of place here to enlighten him on both points. A welsher is a person who contracts a sporting debt without a reasonable prospect of paying it. There is no legal remedy against such a defaulter.-Greenwoud : Seven Curses of London.

The word has no connection with the natives of Wales, who are quite as honest as other people. Welsch in German argot signifies a foreigner, and roth

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welsch or red-welsh, is the name applied to the canting language which thieves use among themselves. It is supposed with probability that the name was given to the brown or red-skinned gypsies or foreigners, who first swarmed into continental Europe from Central Asia. An account of roth-welsch appears as a supplement to the Dictionnaire d'Argot Français, by Francesque Michel. The word welsher, as used originally in England and borrowed from the Germans, meant nothing more than an outsider, a foreigner, one who did not conform to the established laws of honest betting, and thus shared the double odium of being a stranger as well as a rogue. Wälscher is used in German slang in a discreditable sense, being derived from wälsh, Italian, or one of Latin race, and it is extremely probable that it came into English slang through the German Jews.

With the Jubilee fever
Demanding a wet.

-Funny Folks.

Oh, come, We have no Wilfrid Lawson in Sicily

yet; All my Cyclops would strike. Yes! I'm game for a wet.

-Punch. A wet night, a night of hard drinking. As he knew he should have a wet night, it was agreed that he might gallop back again in time for church on Sunday mornagain in time for chy ing.—Thackeray: Vanity Fair. Wet-bob (Eton), explained by

quotation. It was the ambition of most boys to be a wet-bob, and to be “in the boats.” The school was divided between wet-bobs and dry-bobs, the former taking their pleasure on the river, and the latter in the cricketfield.-C. T. Buckland: Eton Fifty Years Ago. Wetherall, general in command

(army), a term used when inclement weather prevents a parade. The health of the troops, from economic and prudential reasons, is always closely watched, and medical officers are always ready to interpose even when the commanding officer does not of his own motion yield before cold and wet.

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Westphalia (London), the behind,

alluding to Westphalia hams.

Wet (common), a drink.

Many are the schemes, contrivances, and devices of some of the old topers to obtain a wet or reviver, first thing in the morning, especially with some of those thoroughly saturated worthies who have had rather “ more than 'nuff” the night previous.—Brunlees Patterson: Life in the Ranks.

The gas-glare—the horse-play

The fume and the fret-
Have ceased, with the fever

That asked for a wet

Wet quaker, a man who pretends

to be religious, and is a dramdrinker on the sly (Hotten). In America a wet quaker is a quaker who is limp or loose as regards observing the rules of the sect-one who is worldly. minded, not “dry” in religion. Would you buy any naked truth, or light in a dark lanthorn? Look in the wet quaker's walk.-T. Brown's Works.

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Socinians, and Presbyterians, Quakers, and wet quakers, and merry ones. — Ward: England's Reformation. Wet, to (common), to have a

drink. The same idea occurs in

French slang “se mouiller.” Greatly as I stared to see him, my surprise

I cannot forget, When he paid me all he owed me, and invited me to wet.

-Funny Folks. Also wet one's whistle or throttle. “Well, as we have nothing to eat,” said

old Brooke, "I move that each man wet his throttle; My hand I can place in a snug little nook, And fork out the housekeeper's bottle.” -H. J. Whymark: The Bachelor's

Dinner. (Navy), wetting a commission, giving an entertainment to shipmates on receiving promotion, Among French soldiers "arroser ses galons” is treating one's comrades on being promoted to the rank of non-commissioned officer. Some of the synonyms for “to drink" are "to have a gargle, a wet, a dram, a quencher, something damp,” “to moisten one's chaffer," "to sluice one's gob," "to lush,” “to liquor up," and the American phrases

"to smile," " to see a man,” &c. Whack (general), a share. Scotch

sweg or swack.

This gay young bachelor had taken his share (what he called his whack) of pleasure.-Thackeray: Shabby-Genteel Story.

He complains of the food, and that he doesn't get his whack.-Moonshine.

So when we got there, there was some reelers there what knew me, and my pals said, “You had better get away from us ;

if we touch you will take your whack just the same.”-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

To go whacks, to share. "You agreed that we should go whacks in everything,” I pleaded, appealing to his sense of justice, since I could not succeed in touching his generosity.-Greenwood : The Little Ragamuffins.

(Printers), whack! a very common and decided expression of doubt or query to a companion's assertion. Generally a polite

way of giving the lie direct. Whacker (common), any.

thing very large, identical with - “whopper.”

“Look what whackers, Cousin Tom, said Charley, holding out one of his prizes by its back towards Tom, while the indignant cray-fish flapped its tail.-Hughes: Tom Brown at Oxford.

(American), driver, drover. There were only eight whackers left, and they were obliged to work day and night to keep the stock together. – O'Reilly : Fifty Years on the Trail.

Used in the phrases mulewhacker, bull - whacker, bushwhacker.

Whacking (popular), large. “How kind of them," says he, “to gi'e

me 'em, Since they're at such a whacking premium.”

-Atkin : House Scraps. Whack, to (general and Ameri

can), to share. As far as he was able to speak, it was the “new hands” who went in for revolvers, and not the old ones, who worked in "co.." and on the sound, old-fashioned principle of “ sharing the danger and whacking the swag."-). Greenwood: A Converted Burglar.

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To whack up on the square, to
share fairly.
He was trying to beat them out of their
share of the swag. He ought to have
whacked up on the square.-.Wall Street
News.

Whack up, share or band up.
Clap a stopper on your gab and whack
up, or I'll let 'er speak !— Detroit Free
Press.
Whacky (tailors), one who does

anything ridiculous.
Whale (Cheltenham College),

codfish. Sardines are called whales at the Royal Military Academy. (Common), an. chovies on toast. “Very like a' whale /” very much like a cock and bull story. From Shak

speare, Hamlet. Whale away, to (American), to

preach, talk, or lecture away continuously or vehemently. Probably from provincial English to whale (wale), to beat soundly, as of an orator's ani. mated gestures, or by association from the common saying, “ Going ahead like a whale." The association of greatness and strength with a whale led in the New England seaport towns to many comparisons and origins of this kind. Thus a powerful and large man was called “a regular whale," and “a whaler," while anything large and overwhelming was

“whaling." Whaler (American), anything of

great or unusual size. Pro vincial English whaler, one that beats, a big strong fellow.

Whang-doodle (American). This

eccentric word first appeared in one of the many “Hard-Shell Baptist” sermons which were so common in 1856. “Where the whang-doodle mourneth for her first-born." It refers to some mystical or mythical creature. It was subsequently applied to political subjects, such as the Free Trade, Lecompton Demo

cracy, &c. Whare (New Zealand), a hut. The

word is used by the settlers in New Zealand, and is a native

term.
What's the ticket on it? Vide

TICKET.
Wheeler (cycling), a cyclist.
Wheel of life, the (prison), the

tread-wheel. Vide EVERLAST-
ING STAIRCASE.

Wheels (cycling), a bicycle or

tricycle. Wheeze (common), a comic gag,

a funny bit of “business," a joke. Possibly from wheaze, a puff. Alas! at times on nights like these Poor is the plot and weak the wheese, And the only pleasure one extracts Is 'tween the acts-yes, 'tween the acts.

-Fun. “Swell vernacular”? Swells don't invent

it; they nick it from hus, and no kid. Did a swell ever start a new wheeze ?

Would it 'ave any run if he did ?
Let the ink-slingers trot out their kibosh,

and jest see 'ow flabby it falls.
Bet it won't raise a grin at the bar, bet it

won't git a 'and at the 'Alls.

-Punch.

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To crack a wheeze, explained by quotation.

To crack a wheeze is to originate something smart, or to say something at the right moment, whether original or borrowed.-Globe.

Wheeze, to (thieves), to say, in.

form, as of one speaking under one's breath, in husky tones. The synonyms for inform are "to squeal, to scream, to blow, to whiddle.” Connor then asked if they (meaning the police) had got “the scout.” To this she replied, “He didna wheeze," by which he understood her to mean that he (the superintendent) had given no indication whether or not.-Scottish Vewspaper.

which it now appears” (Dr. C. Mackay, “A Dictionary of Lowland Scotch). Burns also uses the word with the meaning of frisking about, gambols. “Hence," says Drennan, “it is obvious how whid applied to statements could come to mean a lie.” The transition to “word” is easy, and the origin of whid might be thus traced; gambols (akin to said, as in the line “an arrow whidderan," i.e., scolding), hence a lie, hence a word. It is now-a-days used with the signification of word, falsehood, joke. The whids we used to crack over them. -Hindley : Life of a Cheap Jack. Whiddle, to. To Hotten's defini.

tion, to enter into a parley, or hesitate with many words, must be added, to divulge; “he whiddles the whole scrap,” he tells the whole secret. Whiddler, an informer, who betrays the secrets of the gang. Vide WHID.

Whid (old cant), word; stubble

your whids, hold your tongue; to cut whids, to talk, speak. What! stowe your bene, cofe, and cut benat wydds.-Harman : Caveat.

To cut bien whids, to speak soft words. This doxie dell'can cut bien whids, And drill well for a win.

-English Rogue. Also a falsehood. Even ministers they have been kenn'd,

In holy rapture,
A rousin' whid at times to vend,
And nail 't wi' Scripture.

-Burns: Death and Dr.

Hornbook. In the first edition of Burns the word whid did not appear, but instead of it,

“Great lies and nonsense baith to

Whip (parliamentary), a contrac

tion of whipper-in, a member of the House of Commons whose duty is to collect his party and bring them to divisions.

Dickens, in “Sketches by Boz," tells us how “Sir Somebody Something, when he was whipper-in for the Government, brought four men out of their beds to vote in the majority, three of whom died on their way home again." - Cornhill Magazine.

They curse the nation that declines to believe their lies or to be influenced by their cant, they curse their whips, they curse their leaders, and they curse their fate.-Truth.

vend."

“ This was ungrammatical, as Burns himself recognised it to be, and amended the line by the more emphatic form in

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Also a notice requesting attendance at a division. A four-line whip has been issued by the Government in opposition to the second reading of Lord Dunraven's Bill for the reform of the House of Lords. --Standard.

(Printers), quick setter of type. (Army), after the usual allowance of wine is drunk at mess, those who wish for more put a shilling each in a glass handed round to procure a further supply (Hotten).

Whip-belly (popular), bad beer.

Also whip-belly-vengeance.

I believe the brewer forgot the malt, or the river was too near him. Faith, it's meer whip-belly-vengeance. — Swift : Polite Conversation. Whip-jack (old cant), a vagabond

who begged for alms as a distressed soldier. Also fresh. water sailor. Swaddlers, Irish toyls, whip-jacks.Oath of the Canting Crew. Whipper - snapper (popular), a

youth, stripling, or youngster

of precocious tendencies. Whipping. Vide WHIP. Whip-round (common), a sub

scription for a man in distress,

or for a drink. Whipster (thieves), a sly, cunning

fellow. Whip-sticks (Stock Exchange),

Dunaberg and Witepsk Railway

Shares. Whip the cat, to (old cant), has

reference to mechanics idling their time, “derived from the

practice of bricklayers' men, who, when repairing the pantiles, sneak into the adjacent gutters, pretending to be in pursuit of and whipping the tom cats and their moll rows” (Jon Bee). It is worthy of remark that the French use the phrase “il n'y a pas de quoi fouetter un chat,” referring to a trivial offence; hence “j'ai d'autres chats à fouetter,” I cannot waste my time on matters of such little importance. But the true derivation is from idling the time away at“whipping the cat,” i.e., playing tip-cat. To whip the cat is modern working-men's slang for shirking work and enjoying oneself on a Monday. (Carpenters), one who does private work by the day. (Tailors), working at the houses of the people for whom the garments are being made. This custom is now almost obsolete, owing to the cheapness of ready-made garments. It is very prevalent in France in the case of sempstresses.

Whip the devil round the stump,

to (American), probably older English also, to evade, equivocate, say one thing, and virtually do another. Very common in New England, particularly in Maine, where the devil is whipped around the temperance stump in innumerable ways. There are several English uses of the word whip, all implying something roundabout, equivocal, or dishonest.

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Thus to whip is generally used to express anything dishonestly taken. It may be observed that there is an old negro campmeeting hymn in which these lines occur

Oh, whip de debil roun' de stump,
Prayer and gospel make him jump.

In this the reference is to justifiably and properly deceiving the devil himself. It is possible that this may be the

original source of the expression. Whip, to (popular and thieves),

to swindle. It was I who got the money, and I swindled one of my confederates, pretending I got only a few shillings. This is a common practice amongst thieves, and is called in criminal parlance whipping. I have whipped many and have been whipped a few times myself.-Joe Bragg : Confessions of a Thief.

A naïve confession was made by a woman in the Thames Police-court to-day. The prisoner by way of defence said it all arose out of what happened a fortnight ago, when she and Scully robbed a sailor in Devonshire Street, and Scully was guilty of what is known in Billingsgate as whipping—that is, keeping part of the plunder.-Pall Mall Gazette, Whishler (circus), the man with

the whip, or the ring-master. The one who superintends the performances, who starts the horses, and acts as interlocutor

with the clown. Whisker - bed (pugilistic), the

cheeks or face. His wories rattled, his nozzle barked, his whisker-bed napped heavily.-C. Bede: Verdant Green. Whispering gill, or syl (i.e., syl

lable) slinger (theatrical), the prompter.

Whisper, the angel's (army), the

defaulter's bugle, the call to turn out to be mustered, or

for pack or fatigue drill. Whisper, to (popular), to bor.

row, generally a small sum; to whisper for a bob, to borrow a shilling. A whisperer is a man

in the habit of borrowing. Whist (Hibernian). “Hold your

whist,” i.e., hold your tongue, is an Irishism which has passed into English slang. In gypsy whishters mean lips. This plea, for "little games” like chess

and cards, The Speaker hath (not chess - tingly),

dis-carded, And so the Members whom St. Stephen's

guards Are doomed, it seems, to pine all disre

garded. But though with chess they mayn't the

hours improve, They still to "hold their whist” are not

commanded; Moreover, they're still up to many a

“move," And are not for a “nap” entirely

stranded Besides, while bent on legislation's aims, In “rowing” they keep up their "little games."

-Fun. Whistle, a very ancient slang

word for the throat or gullet. “ To wet one's whistle,” is to take a dram, or a drink. More correctly “to whet one's whistle,” which phrase has its exact counterpart in the French slang expression “s'affûter le sifflet." The expression is found in Chaucer, who says of the Miller of Trumpington's wife in his “Canterbury Tales ” :“So was hir joly whistal well y-wet.

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Originally Newgate Prison. There are three housebreakers that are lately come out of the whit.-Hitchin: A True Discovery.

Probably a form of white, as in Whitsuntide.

Whistler (horse-dealers), a horse

that breathes hard.

He therefore excited plenty of bidding when put up for sale afterwards, and although a whistler, is worth the 520 guineas at which he was knocked down.The County Gentleman.

“That horse of mine is the best I ever had. Very fast and a perfect fencer. I had very bad luck the other day, he overreached himself, and I had to turn him out on the grass."

M.-"Is he a roarer?"
A.-"No; nor a whistler either.”

M.-“I suppose that's the reason you have to make all the noise for him?"-Bird o' Freedom.

Whistling Billy, or puffing Billy

(popular), a locomotive.

Whistling breeches (popular),

corduroys.

White, “as a slang term for blame

or fault (Grose), as in the phrase “You lay all the white off yourself,' or to white, to blame, is a corrupted form of the old English and Scottish wite or wyte, Anglo-Saxon witan, to know (something against one), to impute ; 0. H. German wizan. Cf. twit, from Anglo-Saxon edwitan, old English wite, a fine or punishment; Anglo-Saxon wite, Icelandic víti” (A. S. Palmer). To white, to blame. “You lean all the white off yoursel,” i.e., you remove all the blame from yourself.-Ray: North Country Words. Alake! that e'er my Muse had reason, To wyte her countrymen with treason.

-Burns: Poems. White-boy, a term of endearment

in the seventeenth century for a favourite child or young man. I am his white-boy and will not be gull’d.--Ford: 'Tis Pity, &c.

The name was assumed in Ireland early in the present century, during the agrarian outbreaks, prior to the days of Daniel O'Connell, Smith O'Brien, Mr. C. Stuart Parnell, and the dynamiters. (American), disinterested, whole-souled. A good fellow is Rayner, as white a man as I ever knew. — The Golden Butterfly.

Whistling-shop (popular), a place

in which spirits are sold without a license. Explained by Sam Weller.

Whit (old cant), prison.
He broke through all rubbs in the whit,
And chiv'd his darbies in twain.

--Frisky Moll's Song. And when we come unto the whit,

For garnish they do cry ;
We promise our lusty comrogues

They shall have it by and by.
Then ev'ry man with his mort in his hand,

Is forced to kiss and part;
And after is divorced away
To the nubbing-cheat in a cart.
- The Life and Death of the Dark-

man's Budge.

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Called by thieves a “white clock,” or “white ’un.”

White man's hansom woman

(West Indian), a black mistress.

Whitechapel (common), anything

mean or paltry. (Billiards), to
do whitechapel, to pot your op-
ponent. (Cards), whitechapel
play. At whist playing off all
the winning cards without skill
or plan. It used to be called
bungay play in Norfolk. “Bun-
gay,” says Forby, “was a cor-
ruption from bungar, old Eng.
lish, synonymous with bungler.”
(Popular), whitechapel is a term
used in tossing when “two out
of three wins." Whitechapel
fortune, a clean gown and
pair of pattens. Whitechapel
brougham, a costermonger's

donkey-barrow. White choker (common), a white

tie. Not only were white chokers seen in every part of the house, including the topmost gallery, but ladies in low dresses were content to brave the draughts of the pit.--Daily Telegraph.

A parson, from the white tie. On the resignation of his benefice by a divine still in the prime of life, he said at a farewell meeting that he had no intention of giving up the white tie. This a local journal printed as the white lie.

White Mary (blackfellows' lingo).

The Australian blackfellows who come in contact with "stations” of the white men have a regular slang of their own. White Mary is their generic name for all female cooks, just as it is always “Mary, the maid of the inn," in England.

Blucher, as usual, had marched into the room on the morning in question, coolly ignoring the remonstrances of the irritated woman, when, her passion getting the better of her, she made a rush at him with the poker, which perhaps she had heated on purpose, and touched him on the bare leg --for, like all his race, when not on horseback, he doffed his trousers and boots, and wore nothing but a Crimean shirt. The pain of the wound was as nothing to the indignity. With a bound he rushed into the “Cawbawn Humpy,” his eyes flashing with insulted pride, exclaiming, "Missus Fitzgell, White Mary cook, 'un me," pointing to his leg.-A. C. Grant.

White eye (American), maize

whisky, so called all over the United States.

White mice (pidgin), Chinese

babes of the poorest class. When blind they are called blind mice. It is very generally believed in China, and often said by Chinese who know better, that European missionaries buy white mice in order to make medicines or charms for

sorcery out of their eyes. White-poodle, a woolly, shaggy

kind of cloth.

Peter wore a white-poodle upper Benjamin of his own make.-). Wight: Mornings at Bow Street.

White-horsed in (tailors), having

procured a place by influence.

White jenny (popular), a silver

Geneva watch, or any silver watch of foreign manufacture.

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White tape (popular), gin. Also

“white satin.” These terms for
spirits, white tape, “red tape,”
“ lace," &c., most probably ori-
ginated in the practices of some
of the “ driz fencers," or sellers
of cheap lace, who carried about
their persons "jigger stuffs,” or
spirit made at an illicit still.
“They sold it, I've heard them
say, to ladies that liked a drop
on the sly. One old lady used
to give three shillings for three
yards of driz,' and it was well
enough understood, without no
words, that a pint of brandy
was part of them three yards”

(Mayhew).
Jack Randall, then impatient, rose,

And said Tom's speech was just as fine
If he would catch that first of goes,
By that genteeler name " white wine."

-Randall: Diary.

And her heart began to sicken, for, alas !

it was no “thick ’un,” Twas a white 'un—or, in other words, a bob!

-Sporting Times. Whitewashed and fenced in

(American). This is a very common phrase applied sarcastically not only to towns whose inhabitants are vain of the beauty or other merits of their “place," but even to people themselves. It implies a sense of exclusiveness, pride, and hauteur, which is of all things most detestable to the Western American. Thus Bostonians, from their noted conviction of the superiority of “the Hub” as regards culture, are often asked if it is not yet fenced in. To explain the following illustration taken from the Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Dispatch, it must be understood that the dwellers in the “Birmingham ” of that state are supposed to be extremely ambitious.

"A few days since a verdant Oleander was searching through the city for a purchaser for a raft of lumber which he had tied up near Saw Mill Run. On the wharf he learned, much to his gratification, that the Burgess wished to buy a very large quantity of lumber. But when he had found that official he was informed that he was certainly mistaken, the Burgess wanted no lumber. "Why,' replied the Oleander, 'a man in Pittsburg told me that you wanted all that could be had to fence in the town.' And he left, not understanding why there was a roar of laughter from all present.” White wine (old slang), gin. 10

“A Picture of the Fancy,” the old slang names for gin are

White trash (American), used by

negroes to a white man as a
term of opprobrium.

White 'un (popular and thieves),

a silver watch, a shilling.
Then her eyes fell on the present, and she

felt a most unpleasant
Sort of shock, which made her rave, and
swear, and sob.

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with a view to the enhanced value of the adjoining lots which he retains, appears in the newspapers as a noble, wholesouled gentleman, whose liberality will earn him the thanks of his countrymen and the gratitude of coming generations."

Whole kit and biling (American),

all, all the company Go 'long now, the whole kit and biling of ye, and don't come nigh me again till I've got back my peace of mind.-Mark Twain: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

thus amusingly grouped together. “The squeamish fair one, who takes it on the sly, merely to cure the vapours, politely names it to her friends as white wine. The swell chaffs it as blue ruin, to elevate his notions. The laundress loves dearly a dram of Ould Tom, from its strength to comfort her inside. The drag fiddler can toss off a quartern of max without making a wry mug. The costermonger illumines his ideas with a flash of lightning. The hoarse Cyprian owes her existence to copious draughts of jackey. The link - boy and mudlark, in joining their browns together, are for some stark naked. And the out-and-outers, by the addition of bitters to it, in order to sharpen up a dissipated and damaged victualling office, cannot take anything

but fullers' earth.” Whittled (American), drunk.

Unquestionably Americans may evince a disposition to whittle without first getting whittled.-Cowboys and Colonels.

Also used in England. Whole boiling. Vide BOILING.

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Whole-footed, whole-hearted,

and whole - souled are now cant, though once possessing a legitimate meaning. Says the Philadelphia Age, “Any devising man who invites a crowd to • drinks all round' is instantly praised as a whole-footed man, and the calculating man who gives a piece of land for a church, VOL. II.

Midnight is called the whiching time of night, because at that hour it is sometimes difficult to determine which to do, go home or whoop it up larger.—Life. Whopper (colloquial and vulgar),

anything large, applied especially to a monstrous lie. Whop, to beat; hence a whopper, one that beats anything. Originally

whapper.” When once you've passed the door-“Was

you ever here before ?" Is the question that the cove on duty

asks you; But you've got your answer pat, and you

won't be such a flat As to let a little crammer flabbergast you. Check it proper-tell a whopper.

-J. Greenwood: A Night in a
Workhouse.

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Whop - straw (popular and

thieves), a countryman.

Who's your hatter?
Who's your hatter?

Formerly a

Formerly a street catchword.

I shall not be surprised if the arrangement in black—this decorative tile which you describe-does not revive the now almost forgotten slang question, the sport of a bygone day, “Who's your hatter?”. -Punch.

Whyos (American), a name for a

large gang or class of the lowest villains and vilest desperadoes in New York.

The young men against the walls in the street were Whyos—that is to say, members of the most desperate gang of thugs and thieves in town and Baxters, which is the name of the band from which the Whyos are recruited, a mob of boys between fourteen and seventeen, too young to have the nerve needed to be a Whyo. ... They were Whyos, also — pickpockets dressed to mingle in the crowds at the best up-town hotels and at the races and on the avenues, so as to drain fatter pockets than ever stray into Park Street, unless they bring them there after a night's work. They did not look like villains. . . . Bezie Garity was a typical Whyo girl. She was almost worshipped by the gang, she was so strong and coarse and violent and depraved. ... When she felt amiable she gave exhibitions of what she called her "nerve.” At such time she planted herself squarely on her feet and challenged the strongest Whyo to hit her in the face with all his might.-Philadelphia Press.

Cabby has none, cabbies are far too wide,
So, after lots of hunting, and much bob-

bery,
I pay two shillings for a half-mile ride.
I call it robbery

-Punch. Wide-awake (common), a broad

brimmed felt or stuff hat. "So called," says Hotten, “because it never had a nap, and never wants one.” This word is so universally used as to be almost

recognised. Widdle, to (thieves). “Oliver

don't widdle,” the moon does not shine. Literally, does not in

form upon us. Vide WHIDDLE. Widow, the gallows. In French

slang “la veuve," now the guil. lotine, was formerly the gallows. “Epouser la veuve.” Widow and “veuve " originally were terms to designate the rope or halter, in allusion to a metaphorical marriage knot, or wedlock with a widow of many husbands. However, the Rev. A. S. Palmer thinks that widow, as a slang term for the gallows, is no doubt the same as Scotch widdie, a halter made of a flexible branch of withes, but this is very doubtful indeed.

(American), a grass widow, a wife a long time separated from her husband, or who has been

deserted. Used in England. Wife (prison, old), a fetter fixed

to the leg.

Wide (thieves), well - informed,

clever, short for wide-awake.

It was while I was with him that I got in company with some of the widest people in London.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail. The bookies had been wide, and the

plunger homeward hied, O'erladen he with champagne cup and sorrow.

- Sporting Times.

Wife in water-colours (society),

a wife“ de la main gauche.” The French talk of an unmarried

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couple living as man and wife as "un collage à la détrempe," which is a very close rendering

of the English phrase. Wig-block (popular), the head. Wigger. Vide WIG, TO. Wigging (common), a rebuke.

When in private it is an “ear. wigging." Also“ combing one's hair.” In French “laver la tête" is to rebuke, scold; “don

ner une peignée,” to thrash. Wigster (theatrical), a wiggy

actor—an actor whose theory of art is bounded by the idea of

making his head a wig block. Wig, to (pigeon-fanciers), to post

a scout on the route of flight in a pigeon race with a hen pigeon, to attract the opponent's bird and retard his progress. Probably a form of “to wool,” to discomfit, which see. “If I wigs, I loses," replied Tinker, evidently much hurt at the insinuation.

Instructed by Mr. Stickle, I learnt what wigging was, and no longer marvelled at Mr. Tinker's indignation. It is a fraudu. lent, and lamentably common practice amongst the vulgar “fancy.”—Greenwood : Undercurrents of London Life. Wild (old cant), the country, a

village. Wild is frequently used
by old authors for the "weald”
(old English woeld, wald, open
country) of Kent, as if it meant
a wild or uncultivated region,
a wilderness (Palmer).
I was borne in the wylde of Kent.

-Lyly: Euphues. There's a Franklin in the wylde of Kent hath brought three hundred markes with him in gold.-Shakspeare: 1 Henry IV.

Wild - cat villages (American),

places with odd names. The fol

lowing are all in existence :A. B. C. Jump off Joe. Accident. Kiss-Me (Fla.) Axle-Town. Long-a-Coming. Babylon. Macphelah. Beef-Hide. Mad Indian. Big-Bag. Matrimony. Braggadocio.

Mount Hugging Chicory.

(N.H.). Coffee.

Nine Times. Cowboy. Number One. Crab Tree. Obligation. Dammit. Our Carter. Dirt Town. Oz. Door-Way. Pat's Store. Frozen Creek. Patta Gumpus. Good Land. Plevna (several). Good Luck. Quiz-Quod. Good Night. Rabbit Hash. Gunpowder. Rat. Hat Off. Shirt Tail Bend. Hat On.

Squantum. High Up. Swopetown. Hobbie. U. Bet.

Yuba Dam.
Johnny Cake.
Wilfreds (popular), teetotallers.

Fill the bumper, crack the joke,
We're not Wilfreds.

-Punch. This has reference to Sir Wilfred Lawson, M.P., the great

teetotal champion. William (common), a jocose term

for a bill. To meet “sweet William,” to meet a “bill."

Jingo.

Willow (cricket), a bat; from the

material.

Wilt, to (London), to run away.

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Win, wyn (old cant), a penny.

Suggested to be connected with Welsh gwyn, white, i.e., the silver penny. Some thirty years ago in France pennies were termed “blancs” or “rouges," according to their more or less

dark hue. If we niggle or mill but a poor boozing

generally confined to men of the same college. It is unusual to ask out-college men to a wine without asking them to dinner also.

ken,

Or nip a poor bung with one single win, Or dup but the gigger of a country-cove's

ken, Straight we're to the cuffin queer forced

to bing.

-7. Decker: The Beggar's Curse. Wind-jammer (popular), a player

on a wind instrument. But hold, there's another, a puffer of fame, A noted wind-jammer, young Conlan's

his name. -R. Blades: The Charing Cross Party.

(Nautical), a sailing-ship. Wind one's cotton, to (popular),

to give trouble purposely. Window fishing (burglars), bur

glarious entry at a window.

Wing (prison), a small piece of

tobacco.

A piece as large as a horse-bean, called a “chew,” is regarded as the equivalent for a twelve-ounce loaf and a meat ration, and even a morsel-a mere taste that can only be laid on the tongue and sucked like a small sweetmeat (it is called a wing, and is not larger or of more substance than a man's little finger-nail), is “good” for a six-ounce loaf.-7. Greenwood: Jail Birds at Large.

Also a "wing of snout," "wing of stuff.”

I had a screw who would sling a wing of stuff, and so long as I had a bit of tobacco and did not hear a woman's jawing, I was werry comfortable.-Evening News.

Winging (theatrical), taking a

part under exceptional circumstances, at a moment's notice, and studying it in the wings.

Winkers (pugilistic), the eyes.

Windows (popular), the eyes. Wind, raise the. Vide RAISE. To

slip one's wind, to die.

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Wind - sucker (stable), a term

applied to a horse with the heaves. In gypsy “bavolengro," i.e., "air or wind master;" wind

sucker is provincial for a kestrel. Wine, a (University), a wine

party. A wine consists of dessert, wine (usually only port, sherry, and claret, but at very big wines champagne), and tea and coffee later on. Wines are

Wipe (popular and thieves), a

pocket-handkerchief. “How many wipes did you nibble?". “Only two, a bird's-eye and a hingy.'Disconsolate William. Cold, callous man !-he scorns to yield,

Or aught relax his felon gripe, But answers, “I'm Inspector Field ! And this here warmint's prigg'd your wipe."

- Ingoldsby Legends.

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To see him splitting away at that pace ... and me with the wipe in my pocket crying out arter him.-Dickens : Oliver Twist.

"As a matter of fact, I had my handkerchief in my pocket all the time, and I have it still,” he said, producing a bloodstained wipe, with which he had sopped up the blood from his face on Bloody Sunday.Pall Mall Gazette.

Also a blow, as a wipe on the kisser, across the chops, &c. Wipe out, to (American), signify

ing to extinguish, is taken from the Pawnee Indian language. It means to defeat, to destroy. Imported from America. “ To wipe one's eye,” to shoot game which a person has missed, as if correcting defective vision by wiping watery eyes. Hence to obtain an advantage by superior skill.

She had what is called a bow-gun when she was six years old, a rifle when she was nine, and from that time she has gone on shooting turkeys, red - heads, wild cats, cotton - tails, and pigeons, “wiping the eyes" of the boys along the Pacific Coast, and making her name celebrated, until Colonel Cody secured her for his show.Bailey's Monthly Magazine. Wire (popular), a telegram.

The boots' brother knowed him in Birmingham, and 'as got the tip direct from the stable. He is going to send us a wire from the course. -Bird o' Freedom.

(Harvard University), a trick or dodge. A pickpocket. His fingers were very long, and no lady's could have been more taper. A burglar told me that with such a hand he ought to have made his fortune. He was worth £20 a week, he said, as a wire, that is, a picker of ladies' pockets.-Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Wirer, wire, or wire-hook (Eng

lish and American), a pick

pocket. Wire, to (common), to telegraph.

It cannot be called the most startling piece of intelligence ever wired. — Pall Mall Gazette.

(Popular), to wire in, to go ahead, push on, go in with a will. Also to join, unite with. And when larks and loyalty jine, I say wire in and bust the expense.

-Punch. Wire-worm (Stock Exchange),

a man who collects prices to “wire,” i.e., to telegraph to

country clients. Wisty-castor (pugilistic), a seri

ous blow. Seems to be from wistly, earnestly. Neal was always dangerous, and now and then put in a wisty-castor, which rather changed the look of Sam's frontispiece.-Pierce Egan : Book of Sports. Wobbler (cavalry), an infantry

soldier. (Common), a horse that swerves from side to side when trotting. French, “ un cheval

qui se berce.” Wobble-shop (popular), a shop

where beer or spirits are sold

without a license. Wolfer (common), a man with a

large appetite, or a hard drinker. And a great, sad silence fell upon the crowd ; for then, and not till then, did they realise what unwarrantable liberties they had been taking with their internal organisations, and everybody wished that they had been born an elephant or a megalosaurus, or something with a similar capacity for the storage of liquors, until confidence was restored by the reassuring

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remark of an adjacent whisky wolfer, “But it stretches, gentlemen, it stretches !”Bird o' Freedom. Wolf, to (common), originally

to ingurgitate ravenously, but now with extended meaning of simply to eat. And then it transpires that Skipper Hammett is chewing bacca, and that Shifter has wolfed all the brandy. This is a cold world.--Sporting Times.

I've tasted bouillabaisse, and I've wolfed roast hare and pickled pork.Bird o Freedom.

Also to steal, to cheat out of. It was generally considered that Custance, who was on Comforter in the City and Suburban of 1860, was wolfed by Wells on Lord Nelson, who made a dead heat of it, Comforter winning the decider. -Bird o' Freedom.

To wolf is said to be of American origin. The derivation is obvious. George.—“Quite a snug pile.”

Tom.--"Yes. The boy was only seven years old, and, of course, there was a guardian, or rather a set of them, appointed for him and to take charge of the estate. Well, they wolfed him.”. George.-"Got away with it all ?” Tom.—“Nearly all.”

o –Missouri Republican. Wolloping (popular), thrashing,

beating.

“Porliceman, father's giving mother such a wolloping, will you come?"-Music Hall Song. Wood (clerical), the pulpit. Wood-and-water Joey (Austra

lian), a hanger about hotels. Wood-butcher (tradesmen), work

men who have not thoroughly learned their business as carpenters or joiners.

Counting carpenters and wood-butchers together, it is estimated that about 20,000 men make their living in London as carpenters and joiners. Of these nearly 5000 are of the wood-butcher, or inexpert work. men class, and therefore do not belong to the trade societies.- New York Herald. Woodcock, a tailor, from an

association with a long bill. Wooden fit (popular), a swoon. Wooden overcoat (thieves and

popular). Wearing a wooden overcoat and being put to bed with a shovel, being dead and

buried. Wooden ruff, explained by quota

tion.

To wear a wooden ruff was what plain people called being put in the pillory.— Globe. Wooden spoon, the last man in

the mathematical tripos at Cambridge is generally referred to as the wooden spoon of his year; a common wooden spoon is often actually presented to him by the undergraduates in the gallery of the Senate House. When two or more " last” men are bracketed together, the group is termed the spoon bracket. Winning perhaps eventually the wooden spoon, or worse, being utterly ploughed. Morning Advertiser.

Spanish undergraduates wear a wooden spoon in their hats when in full costume, perhaps an allusion to the intellectual food provided by Alma Mater, but more probably from a custom of poor students in the Middle Ages, who often, like the old French poet Villon, as

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sociated with vagabonds, such as are depicted by Teniers, with a spoon stuck in their hats. In France the practice still exists among tramps or other low class of people. This would tend to show that the university custom has been handed down from the Middle Ages. In the sixteenth century the “Chevaliers de la Cuiller" were an association formed by noblemen of Vaud who had boasted of eating up their enemies the Genevese, but to this of course is not due the

origin of the ornamental spoon. Wooden wedge (Cambridge Uni

versity), the last name in the classical honours list at Cambridge. From the name of a wrangler named Wedgewood, who was the last on the list of

the first classical tripos in 1824. Wood merchant (streets), ex

plained by quotation. When he can't get on that racket he'll turn mumper and wood merchant (which means a seller of lucifer matches). — Temple Bar.

“Dash my wig !” expressive of disappointment or angry excitement, which must have originated in the frequency of persons dashing their wigs in anger to the ground when it was the fashion to cover the shaven pate with that ornament, an act far more convenient than tearing the hair. (Pugilistic), pluck, courage. “Woolled 'un,” or a rare “ wool-topped 'un," a man of great courage. Said to be in allusion to coloured heroes of

the prize-ring. Wool-bird (popular and thieves),

a sheep or lamb. French thieves

call a sheep lainé. Wool-hole (popular), a very old

synonym for the workhouse. Perhaps more used by printers than any other class of workpeople. Savage, 1841, quotes

this term. Wool is up, times are good ; wool is down, times are bad (used by up-country slangy Australians). Wool being the staple of Australia, it is easy to see how a phrase, which at first was applicable only to the fortunes of the wool-growers, gradually passed into a metaphor. Bother ! how can I go steady, I'm worth thousands-wool is up.

-Garnet Walch. I go where wool has gone-down, ever down.

---Garnet Walch. Woolly (studios), a woolly painting

is one painted in slack touches. (Common), irritable, angry. Vide

Wood-sawyer's clerk (Ameri

can), employed to indicate a man in the lowest possible or poorest employment. A clambutcher is applied scornfully to one who is in similar circum-. stances.

Wool (popular), hair. “Keep your

wool on," don't get angry, literally an intimation not to tear one's hair; or, more probably, to keep one's wig on. Compare

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Wool. (Popular and thieves),

a blanket. Woolly - headed boy (tailors), a

favourite Wool-splitter (tailors), a renown

ed tailor.

Wool, to (common), to get the

better of, to discomfit. This phrase, allied to blinding a man in the sense of deceiving him, probably gave rise to the saying so common in America, “To pull the wool over one's eyes." German, “ Er macht ihn mit sehenden Augen blind "_"He blinds him while he sees with his eyes," is very old, and to be

found in the Hildebrandslied. Working the shells (American

thieves), a variety of thimble-rig, in which walnut shells are used, instead of thimbles or little cups.

I was pinched for working the shells at Atlantic City last summer, and got two months for it. A gent in the crowd offered to bet me ten dollars he could tell which shell the ball was under, and of course I went him on it. As soon as I showed my money, he put his hands on me, and said he was a special officer in plain clothes. Low trick-wasn't it? They brought the shells into court, and they've got my table there now.-Confidence Crooks (Philadelphia Press). Works, the (prison), a convict

establishment, such as Port

land, Portsmouth, or Dartmoor. Work the bulls, to (coiners), to

get rid of bad crown pieces. Work the pea, to, to swindle one's

employer by skilfully appropriating small sums off the

takings at the bar of a publichouse, alluding to a conjuror's trick. A phrase much used by

barmen. Work, to (thieves), to steal.

French slang, travailler ; Spanish

slang, trābajar. Worm (popular), a policeman.

Worm is provincial for any

venomous vermin. Worm-crusher (cavalry), a foot

soldier. Worm-eater, a man who sells as

authentic articles of spurious historical value, manufactured for the purpose, or otherwise.

Now and then, it is true, he picked up some article to which the attached legends were a trifle apocryphal. That industrious artist, who is technically known as the worm-eater, was at times too much even for the editor of the Architect.-Standard. Worms (Winchester College), ex

plained by quotation. Across the two ends of the ground a small trench is dug, about four inches wide and two deep, and a goal is obtained when the ball is fairly kicked across the trench (Wiccanicé worms). —Pascoe. Wrap-rascal (old cant), a cloak. Wrens, prostitutes who “squat

ted” amongst the furze of Curragh Common.

These creatures are known in and about the great military camp and its neighbourhood as wrens. They do not live in houses or even huts, but build for themselves “nests” in the bush.-Greenwood : Seven Curses of London. Wright, Mr. (prison), a faithless

prison officer, the intermediary between an incarcerated crimi

Wring—Wusser.

409

nal and his friends outside. The title is so given in the clandestine letters sent out surreptitiously, in which the prisoner says Mr. Wright, who is all right or safe, will call.

You know this from that without any

doubt, And many old fakements can do. -Ballad: You're More Than Seven.

Writing a poor hand (tailors), is

said of one who sews badly; also “sore fist.”

Wring oneself, to (thieves), to

change one's clothes.

I went home and wrung myself, and met some of the mob and got very near drunk.-Horsley: Jottings from Jail.

Wrinkle (common), properly a

whim, fancy. Used slangily for a cunning trick or artful dodge.

I can put you up to a wrinkle. Tollit has got a mare who can lick Teara way into fits. She's as easy as a chair and jumps like a cat. All that you have to do is to sit back.-C. Bede: Verdant Green.

Implying artfulness, this word was probably associated with wrinkle, a fold or plait, as if it meant an involved proceeding, a piece of “duplicity” (duplex) or double-foldedness, as opposed to what is plain or “simple" (Latin simplex, one fold) (Palmer).

Palmer as he was a man symple and withoute all wryncles off cloked colusyone, opened to hym his whole intent. Narratives of the Reformation. I know you're a little bit artful, old boy,

And up to a wrinkle or two;

Wrong (common), wrong in the

upper storey, crazy. In the wrong box, out of one's element. “You'll find yourself in the wrong box,” refers to being completely mistaken and finding oneself in embarrassment or jeopardy. “We are indebted for this to George Lord Lyttelton. He was of a rather melancholy disposition, and used to tell his friends that when he went to Vauxhall he was always supposing pleasure to be in the next box to his, or at least that he was so unhappily situated as always to be in the wrong box” (R. W. Hackwood,

Notes and Queries). Wrong ’un (common), anything

or anybody that is artful or bad. (Turf), a horse not supposed to be meant to win. (Popular), a prostitute, a spurious coin or note.

Wusser (bargemen), a canal

boat.

410

X-Yarmouth.

X, or letter 2, a method of

arrest used by policemen with desperate ruffians, by getting a firm grasp on the collar, and drawing the captive's hand over the holding arm, and pressing the fingers down in a peculiar way—the captured person's arm in this way can be

more easily broken than extri.

cated. X, Y, Z, an (literary), a common

literary caterer, so called from an advertiser under these initials in the Times offering to perform all descriptions of literary work at very moderate and unprofessional prices.

Y

YACK (thieves), a watch. From

the gypsy yack, an eye or watch. Watches were at one time commonly known as bull's eyes. "To church a yack,” or “christen a yack,” to take the works out of the case, to avoid detection.

Yaffle (old cant), to eat.
Yam (West Indian negro, sailors,

&c.), food. Yam, to (popular), to eat. This

is provincial English. Ya-mun, ya-men (pidgin), a man

darin, a prefect's residence. Yank (American), nickname for

Yankee. A quick pull, snap; of very wide application. No kid. I didn't get home till three o'clock, and the missis would have it I was boozed. I assure you, it rained tea-cups and hailed fire-irons for about half-an-hour, and I've felt like struck by lightning ever since. No; that Vank was about right, I guess.-Bird o Freedom.

Yank, to (American), to remove

by a quick motion, or a snap.

He moistens his hands, grabs his property vigorously, yanks it this way, then that.-Mark Twain : A Tramp Abroad. A grasshopper sat on a sweet-potato vine,

A sweet-potato vine,

A sweet-potato vine, A great turkey gobbler came running up

behind, And yanked the poor grasshopper off the sweet-potato vine.

- Popular Song To yank the bun, a synonym for “to take the cake," meaning to take the prize, or to excel

in some way. Yannam (old cant), bread. Pro.

bably a corruption of "pannam," influenced by first syllable of

"yaffle," to eat. Yarmouth bee (tailors), a herring. Yarmouth capon. Vide TROUT,

NORLOCH. Yarmouth mittens (nautical),

bruised hands.

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bleeding that old man hold me in as much contempt as a yellow dog."--American Newspaper.

Yellow fancy (costers and pugi.

listic), silk pocket-handkerchief

with white spots. Yellow fever, formerly a cant

term for drunkenness at Greenwich Hospital, where drunkards used to be punished by being made to wear a parti-coloured coat in which yellow predomi. nated. (Australian mining), greed for gold. The expression has practically come to mean “ Dreams of an Eldorado.” In the same way ladies are said to suffer from “scarlet fever" when they run after military society.

Yarn-slinger, one who writes tales

in newspapers. Yarum (old cant), milk; “poplars

of yarum,” milk porridge. Yaw-sighted (nautical), squinting. Yellow belly (nautical), a name

given to a person born in the fens along our eastern shores. Also a half-caste. (American), a Dutchman; so called from

“yellow belly,” a frog. Yellow boy (common), a gold

coin, a sovereign. In French slang “jaunet,” German cant “fuchs” and “gelbling," from gelb, yellow. Some of the synonyms for a sovereign are “canary,” “couter,” “gingle boy,” “goldfinch,” “monarch,” “shiner,” “quid,” “meg,” “James," "bean," "foont,” “portrait,” “thick-un," "skiv,"

“yellow mould.” The best of all robbers as ever I know'd, Is the bold fighting Attie, the pride of the

road !Fighting Attie, my hero, I saw you to-day A purse full of yellow boys seize.

-Lord Lytton: Paul Clifford. We shut the cellar door behind us, and when they found the bag they spilt it out on the floor, and it was a lovely sight, all them yaller boys.-Mark Twain; Huckleberry Finn. Yellow dog (American). Dr. O.

W. Holmes, in “Elsie Venner,” has written an amusing comment on the fact that in the New England States a yellow dog is a synonym for all that is contemptible. “I am looked at as a blackmailer," said

Yellow gloak (old), a jealous man

or husband. Formerly “to wear yellow stockings" meant “to be jealous.” In France, yellow is the emblematic colour of

deceived husbands. Yellow hammer, one of the

synonyms for a gold coin. Yellow Jack (common), yellow

id he, “and those who believe I have been

fever. His elder brother died of Yellow Jack in the West Indies. -Dickens : Dombey and Son. Yellow man (prize ring), a yellow

silk handkerchief. Sporting the yellow man. The wipe was of bright yellow, made on purpose for him.-Pierce Egan: Book of Sports. Yellow-mould (tailors), a sove

reign.

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Yellow pine (American), a word

frequently used to indicate a

quadroon or light mulatto. Yellow stuff (thieves), gold. In

French slang “jaune.” Also counterfeit gold coins.

If he can manage to begin every morn. ing with yellow stuff, he may make a couple of quid a day; but if he can only muster white stuff, why, of course he can't make so much.-Temple Bar.

Yellows (thieves), counterfeit gold

coin; the silver coin is called blanks before impressed. Many of these are struck at Birmingham, but there was in the beginning of the century a large number made in London.

(Popular), Blue-coat or charity school boys. Yelper, or bullet, got (popular),

discharged.

Yiu (Punch and Judy), a street.

Query French “rue”?
Yob, boy. An example of back

slang largely used by costermongers, which simply consists in spelling (more or less accurately) words backwards. Thus, “Hi, yob, kool that enif elrig with the nael ekom. Sap her a top o' reeb or a tib of occabot,” is “Hi, boy, look at that fine girl with the lean moke (donkey). Pass her a pot of beer and a bit of tobacco.” The art or merit of this form of slang consists in the rapidity, often most remarkable, with which words can be reversed. Thus Mayhew, wishing to test the skill of a professor of the art with a word not in common use in the market, asked a coster friend what was the back slang for hippopotamus. At once he answered “sumatopoppy.” Back slang largely mingles with the older and more legitimate argot or thieves' slang Yob-gab (costers and thieves),

boys' talk. This is a jargon used by costermongers, thieves, and tramps to enable them to talk about their doings without being understood by the uninitiated. It is seldom if ever seen written or printed. The "language" is simple enough, and when the key is known there is no difficulty in talking oneself, or in understanding the talk of others. The simplest form of yob-gab is the spelling of words letter by letter, with

Yennep (costers and thieves), back

slang for a penny. "All a fellow wants to know to sell potatoes,” said a master street seller to me,"is to tell how many tanners make a bob, and how many yenneps a tanner.”—Mayhew: London Labour and the London Poor.

Yeute (Punch show), no, not, as in

yeute lette, no bed. Yid, Yiddisher, Yeddan, or Yed

dican (London), a Jew. From

the German Jüdisch. I might, if I had poached upon the province

of the Pitcher, Have devoted just a verse or two to love among the Vids.

-Sporting Times. Yiesk (tinker), fish (Gaelic casg). Ying-jen (pidgin), Englishman.

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the addition of a consonant after each vowel, and a vowel after each consonant. Thus legs is li-et-gi-si; but as any vowel or consonant may be used, the same word may be expressed in several different forms; thus lael-go-su, le-em-gu-so, lo-es-ga-se, lu-es-ga-so. Man is represented by mu-al-nu, mi-at-ni, mo-ad-no, and so forth, through numberless variations, which make the jargon more puzzling to any one who hears it spoken, the same word being varied at the will of the speaker. The jargon is easily learned, and amongst costers and their children it was, a quarter of a century ago, quite common, and teachers in the Ragged Schools in Kent Street, and the Mint in Southwark, and the district visitors got quite familiar with it, through hearing it in use by both parents and children.

What next ? Don't you think you may get it? “You can be supplied cheaper than that, you bet! About ten bob's worth of stephanotis, and half a dollar to the doorkeeper"

Another friendship severed.-Bird o' Freedom.

This slang phrase has actually given a name to a settlement in the north-west. Vide WILDCAT VILLAGES. We at last got straightened up, and the snow came on with a heavy wind, but most fortunately it was behind us, so we kept before the storm, and reached, in the course of another two miles, the settlement of Ubet. ... The name of Ubet had been selected from the slang phrase so laconically expressive of “You may be pretty sure I will.”—A. Staveley Hill: From Home to Home.

Yokuff (thieves), a kind of back

slang, or anagram, for coffer, that is, a box, chest.

You bet your buttons! (Ameri

can), said of a man who will play at a gambling-table so long as he has money. “ You bet your buttons !” murmured Squito proudly, “Sam'll stay with 'em as long as he's got a check.”-F. Francis : Saddle and Moccasin. You bet your sweet life! (Ame

rican), meaning you may be assured. Also used in England.

You can find me whenever you do; and you'll find me heeled, too, you bet your sweet life.-F. Francis: Saddle and Moccasin.

Yok, yoke (tinker), a man.

(English canting and old provincial), a countryman. The el final is a common termination

(e.g., cockerel), like er. Yorkshire, to, to cheat or cozen.

Also to come Yorkshire over a

person. Used by Dickens. You bet! (American), an exclama.

tion, a strong affirmative or negative. The writer has also heard it with the meaning of

You fasten on (common), syno

nymous of “ you go on.” You'll do! (American), uttered with a strong accent on the you'u. A strong approval, a declaration that the one addressed can take care of him

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plained by one of my friends as being Chesterfieldian for you lie!'” (C. Leland Harrison, MS. Americanisms).

self or hold his own, a note of
admiration. In a police report
in a Michigan newspaper, a'
vagrant brought before the
mayor, being asked what caused
the wound on his nose, re-
plied, " I fell down and stepped
on it." Being required to pay
a fine, he produced a bank-bill,
which he assured the magistrate
was the last fragment of an im.
mense fortune left to him by
a fond and devoted uncle. He
was, in short, so prompt with
his replies, and showed such
“ a healthy indifference” to his
adversity, that the magistrate
dismissed him, exclaiming in
admiration “ You'll do!” “I'll
do” is also commonly heard
when a man is confident of his
ability to succeed in anything,
or to take care of himself.
And like a rat without a tail,
I'll do, and I'll do, and I'll do.

-Mackbeth.

You've fixed it up nicely for me

(popular), one of the numerous
popular slang synonyms for say-
ing that a man is not to be
taken in. “No you don't,”
“Not for Joseph,” or “Do
you see anything green in my

eye ?”
Now grammar is all very well in its way,
As taught to young folks in their teens-
But as for myself I am sorry to say
That I really don't know what it means.
There is only one phrase I can safely

employ,
When a widow invites me to tea,
I wink my left eye and I simply reply,
You've fixed it up nicely for me.

-Robert Johnson: Ballad.

You've shot your granny (Ame

rican), you've found a mare's nest.

Your uncle (American), an equiva

lent for "I." You say you can, but can you?

(American). “ This was ex

Yoxter (thieves), a convict re

turned from transportation be

fore his time. Yum yum (London), first-rate,

elegant.

Z

ZIFF (thieves), a young thief.
Zoo (common), abbreviation for

Zoological Gardens.
Zooning (American), used in

the South. Humming, buzzing,
barking.

Bre'r Bar, he low dat he kin hear de bees a-zoonin.- Uncle Remus.

Zoyara (American), an effeminate

young man, a lady-gentleman, a “Molly.” In 1860-61 there was a young fellow whose name "on the slangs”was Zoyara, a circusrider, who affected the dress and airs of a girl so well that it was the town-question in New York for some time as to

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This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world's books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. Marks, notations and other marginalia present in the original volume may appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the publisher to a library and finally to you.

Google Book Search has digitized millions of physical books and made them available online at the Google Books web site. The digitization at the most basic level is based on page images of the physical books. To make this book available as an ePub formated file we have taken those page images and extracted the text using Optical Character Recognition (or OCR for short) technology. The extraction of text from page images is a difficult engineering task. Smudges on the physical books' pages, fancy fonts, old fonts, torn pages, etc. can all lead to errors in the extracted text. Imperfect OCR is only the first challenge in the ultimate goal of moving from collections of page images to extracted-text based books. Our computer algorithms also have to automatically determine the structure of the book (what are the headers and footers, where images are placed, whether text is verse or prose, and so forth). Getting this right allows us to render the book in a way that follows the format of the original book.

Despite our best efforts you may see spelling mistakes, garbage characters, extraneous images, or missing pages in this book. Based on our estimates, these errors should not prevent you from enjoying the content of the book. The technical challenges of automatically constructing a perfect book are daunting, but we continue to make enhancements to our OCR and book structure extraction technologies.

We hope you'll enjoy these books as much as we do.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing this resource, we have taken steps to prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.

We also ask that you:

  • Make non-commercial use of the files: We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for personal, non-commercial purposes.
  • Refrain from automated querying: Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.
  • Maintain attribution: The Google "watermark" you see on each file is essential for informing people about this project and helping them find additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.
  • Keep it legal: Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liability can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences.